Google Wireless Network Service News: Sundar Pichai Confirms MVNO Service May Be Available Soon

Search engine giant Google is keen that its users always remain connected to its services and, hence, it plans to offer a wireless service, which is expected to be available in the "coming months." This was confirmed by Google senior vice-president (Products) Sundar Pichai delivering a keynote address at the Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday.

According to IBTimes, Google, however, says it does not have any plans to make all mobile users give up their existing service in favor of its purported wireless service. Pichai revealed that currently Google is working on the wireless project as it is working on its mobile device brand. According to him, Google aims to establish a position in the industry to show how the company believes things should work.

Delivering his keynote address, Pichai said, "Our goal is to drive a set of innovations we think should arrive, but do it on a smaller scale, like Nexus devices, so people will see what we're doing." The Google executive went on to add, "It's a very small-scale compared to the rest of the OEM industry, but it pushes the needle. I think we're at the state where we need to think of hardware, software and connectivity together."

In fact, it is expected that Google will work with other recognized operators to offer the required bandwidth for its service. Moreover, Google may also use local Wi-Fi networks to augment cellular coverage on its network. According to CNET, Google is unlikely to try and shake-up the industry by pushing down the prices of its service.

Meanwhile, Google has yet to reveal other details regarding the service, for instance the precise networks Google is working with as well as the cost. A number of reports hint that the Mountain View-based tech giant may possibly collaborate with T-Mobile and Sprint. During the carrier's fourth-quarter earnings call, T-Mobile CEO John Legere talked in favor of Google's idea of establishing a mobile network, but he refused to reveal whether the Magenta network is involved.

When Google starts operating its own network, the company will establish itself as, what the industry calls, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), something similar to Virgin Mobile, Cricket and MetroPCS. All these MVNOs use the networks of wireless carriers like Verizon or T-Mobile to operate their individual services.

While Pichai confirmed that Google has already talked to the top two U.S. networks, Verizon and AT&T, to ensure that its efforts does not get into the way of Google's relationship with those networks, it is expected that the company will discuss its proposed MVNO at its I/O conference in late May.