G-Mobile

This'll be the first of many "Crazy Ideas that Just Might Work" posts.

I think Google should acquire T-Mobile.

T-Mobile is the smallest of the remaining big cellular carriers. One might even say it's the last one yet to be acquired/merged/purchased.

The Google+T-Mobile combination could be lucrative for these reasons:

1. Free internet services, with text-based adds for any customer who wants it, including wi-fi hotspots (this is a big one, T-Mobile currently has the market cornered at Starbucks, United Red Carpet, AmericanAirlines Adimiral Club, Delta Crown Rooms, Border Books & Music, FedEx Kinkos and a variety of other pay-hotspot locations – many, many locations)
2. Expand internet access by offering low-cost wireless broadband via existing networks (this for home PCs and traveling laptops).
3. Alternatively/Additionally, offer discounted rates on combined cellular/internet plans, bring Google Talk to the next level by offering home telephone service via T-Mobile wireless network (home base stations). So, for around $50/month the customer would get unlimited cellular service, unlimited cellular/home/travel/wi-fi internet (anywhere you go), unlimited home phone service (with all the features of Vonage), unlimited Gmail, and all the existing Google Services.

Why would Google offer such a fantastic and affordable service? To bring more people to Google, of course. People are paying $45/month for a dial tone anyway, why not get the whole package? It would have to appeal mainly to, for lack of a better term, "late adopters", you know, the people who still haven't gotten a mobile phone yet and still use AOL internet (of course, if Google would/could buy AOL too, that would be even better).

Of course at time of writing, Deutsche Telekom AG (T-Mobile USA's parent company) has a market cap of $70 billion (USD) and Google, Inc has a market cap of $123 billion (USD), so this deal may not be quite feasible.

Please email your thoughts to robert@lifeistech.com.

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