Google does not acquire wireless Internet network provider ICOA

More recent updates have Google claiming this hasn't happened<p><a href="http://allthingsd.com/20121126/google-sources-say-company-didnt-buy-icoa-wireless/" rel="nofollow">http://allthingsd.com/20121126/google-sources-say-company-di...</a><p>(well played mods on the updated title ;-)

Could Google be attempting to do what Republic Wireless[1] are doing? I always loved the idea of Republic, but they only ever had one (crappy) handset available, and I'm on a $30 a month plan with T-Mobile that largely fills my needs.<p>But it seems like an area that's ripe for a larger player to come in and do it better- I very much hope that Google intends to be that player. They've been frustrated by the existing players in wireless enough times (Google Voice, Verizon's treatment of the Galaxy Nexus)...<p>[1] <a href="http://www.republicwireless.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.republicwireless.com/</a>

Wi-Fi based infrastructure is (1) dirt cheap, and (2) offers order-of-magnitude better performance than 3G/4G so this is definitely a place where it's cost effective to provide a better services than other providers and thus promote their brand image.

Makes sense. It's sad how we need an advertising company to revolutionize the isp industry. They are perfectly content to sit on their laurels and do nothing but receive their profits with the minimum amount of work.

I remember reading a while ago that Google was working on something that was "like wifi, but better". I wonder if this is related?