Chrome OS: Is Something Bigger Going On?

Is the possible Google Cell Phone Network also going to Power Chrome OSes on the go?

Yesterday, Google announced it plans for Chrome OS.  As of now, it’s available as an open source project known as Chronium OS.  Here at Techtrackr, we’ve downloaded it, and we’ve noticed that you must have an Internet connection to log on.  No Internet means no OS.  So what happens when you’re on the road and you need to pull up something on your computer and you can’t because you don’t have any Internet.  The only thing you can do offline is play media off a USB stick or the like.  Well, let’s go over what we know about Chrome OS:

• Obviously it is very web oriented
• There is no driver SDK as of now so only Google approved devices can use Chrome
• It will not work on standard hard drives, but only SDDs
• It will only work with certain WiFi chips
• It will work on x86 chips and ARM chips
• It can’t write to your hard drive, only to the cloud
• Chrome OS is pointed at netbooks

We must remember, however, that Chrome OS is open source and people can change this.  However, the stock version handed out by Google will include these features (as of now).  What does this all point to?  To me, this points to an omnipresent data network so all the Chrome OS computers will function properly. If you’ve been keeping up with the rumors, Google is reportedly going to unveil a true Google phone.  What’s interesting is that the rumors are saying that it will be a complete data-only phone, that makes calls through Google Voice/Gizmo5 VoIP.  We must also remember that while Google was looking to buy the 700MHz spectrum a few years back, they didn’t.  So this phone would have to come out partnering on some one’s network.  And it would make sense to put Chrome OS netbooks on that same network.  However, AT&T’s network is terrible (Read: 30% drop call rates on iPhones in NYC), T-Mobile doesn’t have much of a 3G network,Verizon is heavily pushing the Motorola Droid against the iPhone and is more Droid centered then ‘An’Droid centered, and Sprint has only one Android and isn’t pushing it that much.  Where does that leave Google?  Sprint seems like the best choice as it had a good network and is pretty Android neutral.  And Sprint is coming out with a WiMax 4G network sooner then AT&T or Verizon is coming out with their LTE 4G networks.  I think that either Google is coming out with their own network, or they are piggybacking on Sprint.  I know the rumors say AT&T but I just can’t imagine that panning out.  Look at the map. There just isn’t enough 3G on AT&T to go around.  But if Google goes with sprint and WiMax, what would happen to the world, who has already chosen that LTE will be Europe’s and most of the world’s 4G choice.  So Sprint is also out.  Which means Google would have to buy spectrum, or do an Amazon and use a carriers network without really pushing the network.  And if they did that, it would have to be Verizon, because Verizon is the best network out there.  So that puts Google in a position to buy and resell at no charge (because it’s Google) Verizon’s network and loose a ton on money on that, or spend a bunch and operate their own network and make up the money in the long run.  It’s easy to see why it makes more sense for Google to create and manage their own network, which is what I imagine they are going to do.  And revolutionize that industry like they have where ever they’ve been.

What do you think?  Comment or tweet to us @techtrackr.