Google Fiber. Gbit Internet

[Fizz]

I don't see that they need to get into ISP services for those two items you mentioned, either way.

Being your own ISP has several advantages from technical, licensing, legal, ROI/Profit and advertising perspectives.

If they want to push instantaneous digital media to end users as fast as flipping a channel, they would need the infrastructure in place to do so, which currently does not exist in the general public realm. This could also open up the realm to new markets, such as HD Video gaming with NO console at the location (perhaps just a dumb box/terminal of some sort that manages user interface and connectivity).

I see a lot of potential in this.

[Fizz]

In practice over a Gigabit LAN, I've seen 80 megabytes per second.

Well, you ahve to consider the storage media being read/written from/to as well.

Try a RAM drive to RAM drive across gigabit. =D

[odysseus]

Now you are orbiting closer to my own understandings of it, however it isn't without questions. Certainly creating their own private pay-to-play network on top of the ISP services for media is a no-brainer. Scaling that to make it available to millions is a serious commitment however, but also with its own set of options on how to administer and piece out.

Yet I ask this question for everyone on here so they can pipe in their thoughts too.

If they want to push instantaneous digital media to end users as fast as flipping a channel, they would need the infrastructure in place to do so, which currently does not exist in the general public realm. This could also open up the realm to new markets, such as HD Video gaming with NO console at the location (perhaps just a dumb box/terminal of some sort that manages user interface and connectivity).

I see a lot of potential in this.

[ocabj]

That would make services like remote hard drive backup nice. A gigabit is what, 12.5 megabytes. You could backup drives in just an hour or so.

1 gigabit ~ 125 megabytes, not 12.5.

[yellowsulphur]

I'd like to see Google as an ISP break the back of the RIAA and MPAA. I hate the idea of forcing ISP's to be police officers through safe harbor legislation. I don't think Google would stand for it.

[Fizz]

Now you are orbiting closer to my own understandings of it, however it isn't without questions. Certainly creating their own private pay-to-play network on top of the ISP services for media is a no-brainer. Scaling that to make it available to millions is a serious commitment however, but also with its own set of options on how to administer and piece out.

Of course, but over the long term managing your own stuff is better than licensing other peoples technology and/or infrastructure and they probably realize that in order to push this, they need to be the pioneers.

You have to remember that current internet infrastructure was built on top of technology that never had any intention of being what we use it for now. It was a matter of pure convenience that we have DSL (RJ 11 Analog Phone lines) and Cable (Coaxial cable intended to deliver analog cable service). It's why we have to have a 'modem' on a phone line or coax to bring in service; they're adaptive pieces of technology.

Pushing the amount of data google's talking about on copper for large scale deployments is an IMPOSSIBILITY on current infrastructure. Verizon realized this need too (FIOS) but I don't think they've succeeded in the market penetration that they were looking for.

Lots of businesses have employees in an office because the access to resources is limited by current infrastructure. If you're able to have internet speeds akin to what you'd have at the office. You may never need to commute to work again. Businesses would love the reduction in overhead, people have more money in their pockets not commuting. Obviously not a benefit to every industry, but it's the way of things.

[NYT]

Well, you ahve to consider the storage media being read/written from/to as well.

Try a RAM drive to RAM drive across gigabit. =D

ram drive?

[Fizz]

ram drive?

There are various applications out there that will let you map memory space with a drive letter, emulating an attached disk.

You basically get ridiculous throughput speeds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAM_drive

[Rouge Recon]

I read it would cost $70/month or $120/month for their tv+internet bundle. I understand it would only be offered in your neighborhood if you rallied your area and got a few people to agree to join first. I want the connection, but to petition for it? I doubt anyone in my area would be as excited as I am about it.

[Fizz]

You had to rally to be the test market. It doesn't mean there won't be future expansion into other markets.