Google Fibre - Google to go ISP?

If you have been in the know, Google's been working on a new product for about 2 years now, something which to me, is an interesting route to go down towards - Broadband Internet.

First thing's first, I'm pretty sure we won't see Google Fibre make its way to Singapore in the next 10 years so if that's what you're expecting...er...sorry.

What is interesting though, is that this service is now in direct competition with the companies it relied on in the pass for their customers to get online to use their services.

The pricing plan is seriously attractive too! It's not really fair to compare with Starhub since Google Fibre's not available locally, but still:

• Google Fibre Internet Only (approx S$88)/mth - 1,000Mbps d/l speed, 1,000Mbps u/l speed

• Google Fibre Internet + TV (approx S$150/mth) - 1,000Mbps d/l speed, 1,000Mbps u/l speed and Cable TV

• Starhub MaxOline Express (approx S$60/mth) - 16Mbps d/l speed, 1.2Mbps u/l speed

• Starhub MaxOnline Premium (approx $82/mth) - 50Mbps d/l speed, 2Mbps u/l speed

• Starhub MaxInfinity Supreme (approx $400/mth) - 1,000Mbps d/l speed, 500Mbps u/l speed

That's a huge difference in price if you ask me. Plus, for the Internet+TV package, you get to watch TV shows like you would on your regular cable television, which includes popular channels like Animal Planet, Bloomberg, C-Span, CNBC, Discovery's list of channels, Food Network, History Channel, MTV, Nickelodeon, Showtime, Starz, Syfy Network, TLC and more! There's still a few important channels like HBO that's missing, but they're in the works of bring it over.

On top of that, Internet users get up to 1TB (yes, TB) free storage on Google Drive, since the recent update, Drive is a lot more stable than it initially was. A regular 1TB plan on Drive would set you back about US$50.

One of the coolest accessories is that if you are on their TV plan, you get a remote - a Nexus 7 tablet. And even if that's not your cup of tea, they're providing apps for iOS and Android to use for you to control you TV stations from the comfort of your couch using a smartphone or tablet...how about that???

Here's where I stir some shit

I'm actually quite amazed by this new service by Google, and this is where my personal opinion comes in which some may take offensively. I'm pretty certain this idea would have been something Steve Jobs would have advised Larry and Sergey to do during the days when he was mentoring the two. Think about it, if Steve's all about taking control of the product and experience, I'm not saying he would have created an Apple Internet Service, internet isn't the core backbone of Apple's business, but if Steve ran Google, which does rely on the internet as its core business, I'm sure he would've gone down the same route and created a form of Internet Service to package the Google brand.

I know it's may be rather controversial to some, but you have to remember Steve didn't have any problems with Larry and Sergey, he walked out cause he was played by Eric and Andy. Both Larry and Sergey were once "apprentices" of Steve and so it's not hard to imagine that Google Fibre would've been a combined effort of Larry and Sergey, with the influence of Steve during the younger days...think about it.

Personally, whether you'd agree with me or not, Google Fibre looks like an amazing product, and it's just starting out in Kansas City, soon, it'll spread to other parts of the States and hopefully, it'll stir some competition to bring prices down in order to compete with the tech giant in a new field it just ventured into. Internet Service Provides have been taking things for granted for some time now, maybe this is a wake up call.