The trend these days seems to be for companies to expand out from their original mission into the lucrative world of internet connectivity? Weirdly, it seems so! Once upon a time, AOL spent millions to buy Time Warner and escape the perception that it was just an ISP, and now companies who aren’t ISPs are reaching into the broadband Internet game. From Google and Google Fiber and beyond, everyone wants to be something else. For example, Amazon started making its own tablets, and now they’re going to be making the jump to having an ISP?
Amazon is rumored to be testing out a broadband service with the help of Globalstar, who provide the bandwidth. Of course, Amazon has been rumored to be working on a smartphone, and the Kindle line of devices uses broadband access, too. Kindle also has its Whispernet of 3g to send purchased Kindle books and whatnot to tablets no matter their location. The source of the wireless network, Amazon’s Lab126, is its Kindle skunkworks in Cupertino, California.
Currently, AT&T is the provider of 4G wireless for the Kindle Fire, but I imagine if Amazon really does roll out a wireless broadband provider, that will be changing. I, for one, would love to see that kind of cheap connectivity continue in the future, and if I can stop giving money to AT&T and give it directly to Amazon, I’m on board.
Leave a Reply