Google Planning To Become Mobile Carrier, Striking Deals With Sprint and T-Mobile

Google is planning to sell wireless service directly to consumers after striking deals with Sprint and T-Mobile, according to a report from WSJ.

The report suggests that the search giant has laid the groundwork for its own cellular service by buying capacity on the networks of Sprint and T-Mobile USA.

The Verge has been able to verify that the project is indeed underway. It added that by purchasing bandwidth from two of the big four national carriers instead of building its own wireless network, Google would be launching what's known as an MVNO - (mobile virtual network operator), a carrier that doesn't build or operate its own network but sells services that run on the partners' infrastructure.

Google's interest in providing Internet access to consumers has grown in recent years. With Google Fiber it aimed to provide Internet access to developed markets and through Project Loon it is trying for rural areas.

"Codenamed "Nova," the project is led by longtime Google executive Nick Fox. A launch this year seems likely. Mr. Fox had previously looked at starting the service last fall, and some employees have already tested it," another report by The Information notes.

The Information added that Google wants to get creative with plan pricing and to do that it has been experimenting with "communication apps."