Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) has been dabbling in the wireless market, and rumors of a Google cellular phone have been around for awhile. According to an article in Business Week, it looks like a Google phone might be closer to fruition than originally speculated.
A Google mobile phone would be the first fully ad-based service in the wireless market. Making the 24/7 advertising more palatable for users would be the customization of ads for each user based on personal preferences. The ads would have a sense of intelligence knowing where a user is and serving ads specific to that location. The intention would be to lessen the intrusive feeling of the ads by giving them real-time utility.
The cell phone market is enormous. With over 2 1/2 billion cell phones in use worldwide (more than personal computers and televisions combined) and growing, the cell phone market remains fairly untapped where real-time advertising is concerned. Google could easily leverage and expand its online Google AdSense experience and success to create a similar ad-serving tool in the cell phone service market.
While other major cell phone service providers like Verizon Wireless continue to play it cool claiming even if Google launched and had success with an ad-based service, they would be unlikely to follow suit. In the meantime, industry analysts speculate Google could enter the cell phone market through an expansion of its existing broadband endeavors or by purchasing an existing cell phone carrier such as the ailing Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S).
Either way, it seems to me that Google would have success with ad-based cell phone service for one reason - it would save users money. Of course, I'm operating under the assumption that the service would be free, but I suppose there is the possibility it could just be offered at a cheaper rate than competitors' cell phone service plans. I'm sure there are countless consumers throughout the world who would gladly accept ads in place of high monthly cell phone bills. What do you think? Does Google stand a chance with an ad-based cell phone service?
» Google Phone His Cell Phone Market from MarketingBlurb
Back in September, I published a post called "A Google Phone Might Be a Reality Soon," and today is the day. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) has formally announced it's jumping into the cell phone market with a free cell phone software p... [Read More]
Tracked on: November 5, 2007 6:41 PM | Permalink to Trackback