Google's Project Fi, Would it Disrupt Telecommunications?
The Deal worth Striking
The technology of Project Fi, as of now is supported only by Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6, rumor has it that Apple will soon introduce Fi compatible devices. As a token to mark its exit from invite only model, the company has put up an offer that discounts Nexus 5X by $150 upon signing up for the service by April 7. Reviewers had tagged as a deal better than the best deals around.
Impact on Telecom Industry
Cheap pricing combined with support for multiple networks offers a sharp USP for Project Fi. This would pose as a difficult time for operators currently abstaining from collaborating with Google. The tech behemoth is popular for offering services cheap to large numbers thereby overriding market competition. A reliable option for telecom companies would be to collaborate with Google at the scenario of not being able to keep prices lower than what Project Fi offers. Once the tech takes off, it would essentially be Google wrapping up service providers under its own set of plan and pricing.
Factors that Could Affect Project Fi
If mobile manufacturers refused to inculcate support for Project Fi technology, the whole campaign would be reduced to a mere Google product, huge but confined. But it appears Google has a plan B for that – Project Ara, that promise customization of device at a hardware level, something too tempting for consumers to discard. The same would happen if the company fails to come in terms with the demands of service providers in other countries. But Google has already successfully pulled the chords with a couple of major providers as mentioned earlier. Its strategy and benefits offered to partners is intriguing and is as secretive.
How about Privacy?
As Aeon.com points, “According to Google’s privacy policy – to which one assents whenever one uses a Google product, even when one has not been informed that he or she is using a Google product – Google can share the information it collects about you with almost anyone, including government agencies. But never with you. Google’s privacy is sacrosanct; yours is nonexistent.” People concerned about privacy would be skeptical about Project Fi, but this however appears to be the least of Google’s worries as its awareness is low among the masses while the tech giant encapsulates the major chunks of communications sector. Questions about privacy are yet to be raised to the folks behind Project Fi.
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