Dumb Pipes
Every once in a while Google comes along with a great idea that really upsets the apple cart. Lots of other companies and people have these same ideas, but Google has the ability to rock the boat because of its size and visibility.
Sometimes these great ideas are purely "duh that's obvious" ideas that go unnoticed because a certain market has been entrenched for so long. This has been happening in the wireless industry for a long time. Wireless companies are, at their core, providing a data pipe. They fight this idea tooth and nail because it turns their service into a commodity, but there is no resisting the truth in the end. They provide dumb pipes. Today we have the equivalent of multiple energy companies offering electricity but demanding that you sign long-term contracts and use proprietary electrical plugs for your appliances. It's just silly.
Today a Google patent came to light which highlights this fact and puts it in boldface. It outlines an auction mechanism for providing connectivity no matter where you're at or which device you're using. You choose which network you want to use based on quality and cost. No doubt wireless companies are going to shudder when they see it because it would mean the end of wireless contracts as we've come to know and hate them. It truly turns them into dumb pipes.
This scheme throws light on the fact that, aside from connection quality, all pipes are created equal. There are no proprietary networks any longer, and if there are, they won't be around for long. Choosing the best pipe for your needs based on quality and price would be a big blow to the wireless industry, but a huge win for consumers. It's also inevitable.
I love seeing disruptive ideas like this coming from big companies. While they're equally great coming from small companies, big companies like Google have the clout to make them happen.
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