Google May Launch Mobile Service In UK
Michael Arrington
35 comments »
We’ve heard from a good source in the mobile industry that Google may be preparing to launch its own branded mobile network in the UK in the next few weeks. If our source is accurate, Google will become a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) via a deal with UK mobile phone company O2.
We’re hearing that there will be no physical stores for the service, and that signups and customer service will be provided exclusively via a website. A number of Nokia handsets will be offered, all pre-loaded with Google mobile software.
MVNOs typically have a difficult time building a customer base. Virgin Mobile, however, has been a standout exception in the UK. They have over 4 million subscribers and have been around since 1999. In the U.S., Helio is one of the better known MVNOs.
This is highly speculative at this point and is based on a single source. A lot of Google mobile phone rumors have turned out to be false.
The future of mobile service is in the hand of MVNO as Google in UK: i’m curious to know the offer of service via a website instead physical stores.
Hum… this doesn’t seem like a good idea.
Wouldn’t they just be better off partnering with an uber-large mobile telco like Orange or Vodafone across many, many countries to get the software preloaded?
aaah!!!
really curious to see how this goes..
Hmm, sounds interesting. Possible collaboration with Apple and the iPhone?!
most MVNO have a tough time making money, if when they target a specific niche. Just see ESPN’s past attempt which got pulled, and now revived as a content only model for Verizon. For some further coverage on this see the following http://inbabble.com/2007/05/20.....d-to-fail/.
It would be great to watch if Google did do this however!
I am really excited about the future of mobile, it’s going to be lots of fun to watch (and invest in) as it evolves.
Everybody loves a good rumor.
Too bad you guys don’t do celebrities, any idea where Angelina is adopting from next?
It makes complete sense to me - a mobile platform they could pretty much control (from the consumers perspective). Google Talk integration, AdSense placement, mobile phone facia branding, opportunity to promote the awaited Google Mobile OS…and reaching an even bigger audience - why wouldn’t they?
Stelios’ EasyMobile (easyjet.com) is a similar branded mobile service, but without the muscle or the brand power of Google.
Personally, I think this is an overrated move by Google. I’m not sure why they want to tackle this very difficult direct-to-consumer market. I commented on it over here…
http://www.capitalai.com/blog/.....ess-ideas/
Interesting to know MVNOs don’t work well in the States. In Germany, Austria and across Europe we have got a couple of them and some are working really well, for ex.: “Simyo” (Germany), “Yes!” (Austria), “Bob” (Austria)
I think Google mobile will doing good in UK since they are well known in the internet. It probably takes time for them to get lots of customer. G has the money, they can throw lots of money to market it.
Makes sense. Location based services? Local search? As Dario said, “The future of mobile service is in the hand of MVNO “. If they have the power to control their own network, then local search is just around the corner.
Google is the future for web incredibile…..
I love watching TV on my phone. So many great channels like the Fashion Channel for Fainting Goats
MS will when the mobile OS market, simply cause MS builds and licenses technology which enables u and me to make money. Google does not 
Give it up already - GOOG has already publicly stated they are not moving into the handset market. Why do these rumors still keep cropping up? They are focused on applications for the mobile market - that’s it.
I’m not quite sure what to say about that last comment, but anyway!
This sounds too odd to be true. Way out of Google’s core business.
GJ
http://www.60in3.com
Hmmm…
While Google Mobile sounds pretty interesting prospect, it’s been a rumor for a while now. So, let’s keep the fingers crossed to see if this actually materialises.
Jason,
O2 is owned by Telefonica which is the largest mobile operator in Europe (and America). They are even bigger than Vodafone!
It wont happen.
> O2 is owned by Telefonica which is the largest mobile operator in Europe (and America). They are even bigger than Vodafone!
Sure, my (not very well made) point was that they don’t need to become an MVNO to get their apps (a core business now, after that slogan rewrite) on the phones.
Why concentrate on one country on a risky non-core business when you can net a big operator partnership and roll out the apps worldwide for little risk.
Isn’t it a mixture of news between Google launching a mobile phone with integrated search and ads with O2 and on the other hand BLYK which will launch soon a free service on Orange?
Jason:
> Why concentrate on one country on a risky non-core business when you can net a big operator partnership and roll out the apps worldwide for little risk.
Because the UK would be used as a test bed for rolling it out elsewhere later on should it be successful.
As Julian has already said, O2/Telefonica are bigger than Vodafone. In fact, with the exception of China Telecom, they are the biggest in the world.
So you can’t get any more “big operator partnership” if you tried.
Another factor why Google may want to move to the UK is because they can see a niche for the requirement of cheap data access. Seing the new data plans of 130mb/month from Vodafone and 30mb/month from Orange that have emerged over the last couple of weeks the phone companies still haven’t caught on…..
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Ahoj!
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