By incorporating such technology Sprint is attempting to make itself unique as a wireless provider. In the American market, Sprint has been lacking in maintaining a competitive advantage against wireless giants Verizon and AT&T. Without bargaining chips such as the iPhone and superior service ratings, Sprint/Nextel now has something to offer to potential customers. They exclusively combine your Google Voice with your cellphone, making your PC or Mac, home phone, cell phone, and e-mail inboxes interchangeably connected forever. It is rather interesting to see a wireless provider adopt such technology, because of the risk on profits involved. By allowing users to tap into such technology via their mobile phone, Sprint faces a loss on certain features that users can access cheaply or free through Google Voice rather than through the Sprint Network. Although for many service providers this could be worrisome, Sprint has offered a relatively cheap unlimited talk, text, and data plan for quiet some time. At the end of the day, Google Voice should help to increase its customer base and attractiveness while strengthening profits. The article focuses on Sprint’s adaptation to Google’s technology; however, a final note of interest lies in honing in on Google. What exactly does this mean for Google as a company? Carefully considering this business transaction, it would appear that Google is expanding its efforts to another level in the wireless industry. There are speculations that in the future Google plans to use Sprint as a means of expansion to eventually become their own wireless provider. For now we can only wait to see how Google Voice effects Sprint’s network and allow the technology to do its job.
Works Used:
1. Peckham, Matthew. "Sprint Puts Google Voice Everywhere." 21 March 2011: n. pag. Web. 22 Mar 2011.
2. http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html
3. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703858404576214351604164430.html?mod=WSJ_Tech_LEFTTopNews
I think Google Voice marks just the beginning of innovations in the telecommunications industry. With all the different mediums of communication, it is about time that an application was designed to not only connect your cell phone, computer, home phone, and e-mail inboxes together, but to do so in a very personalized way. When watching the tutorials about the features on Google Voice, I was amazed at what is offered. There are features that solve problems that I didn’t think were possible. From customized voicemail settings for specific callers, cheap international calling rates, to linking text messages to e-mail making the means of responses interchangeable, the features on Google Voice exceed my expectations.
ReplyDeleteWhile Sprint is trying to maintain a competitive advantage by bringing Google Voice to their network, I think this collaboration of the two brands will serve more as a stepping-stone for Google. As Kealan acknowledged, Google Voice will help Sprint increase their customer base and attractiveness by offering such a unique application; however, I think Google will prove to reap more benefits. Google has positioned themselves as a company that offers free innovative applications for the public. They have been extremely successful in building their name and collecting a strong customer base. I think Google is ready to expand their company into the wireless industry. With Google Voice, they definitely have the means to do so.
Google Voice is a very useful tool that I do not think is widely known about. I only learned about it the other day when my friend called me from Europe and he used Google Voice to make a free call. This is a very convenient and inexpensive way to make calls and it will significantly impact the telecommunications industry. For Sprint, this is a very smart idea to incorporate Google Voice into their Android phones. As Dr. Pridmore said in class today, technology is moving towards mobile apps. Sprint will have a first-mover advantage by using the technology first and it will probably increase their ratings and users in the United States. One thing that I find really interesting after reading these posts and articles about information technology is how interrelated all of the technology and telecommunications companies are. The combinations of different companies specialties produces new and better services, so it is no wonder that technology changes so rapidly.
ReplyDeleteI just recently discovered this new technology and find it to be a truly interesting concept. After reading this article and other information, I now understand that Google Voice is exactly what Kealan mentioned above, "a web based application that allows people to make anything Google (gmail, etc.) part of your telephone service". More importantly, Sprint is the first to provide this new service to its customers and by doing so they most likely hope to increase sales and their overall customer group. Like all new technology, companies quickly try to replicate a service that is doing well and for this situation if this new technology catches on it will greatly benefit Sprint. Personally, already being a Sprint customer I feel that this new service will be of great use in linking almost all forms of electronic communication. I am interested to try out this technology and hope that it will do exactly what it is suppose to do with very few technical issues. Additionally however, I agree with Carolyn and how she explained how this new technology is in essence a stepping-stone for Google and will help them move forward into the telecommunication market. This move will most certainly prove rewarding in the long run and only add to Google's success. Could this lead to a potential buy out of Sprint by Google down the road or is this just another way for Sprint to hold onto its services longer? Whatever the end result may be, it is definitely a right move for both companies and should be beneficial overall.
ReplyDeleteFrom a consumer perspective, Google Voice is the perfect tool to connect with long distant family and friends at a low cost. After reading this article, I will definitely research Google Voice further to use when I study abroad in Florence. I follow a similar train of thought as John when he asks "Could this lead to a potential buy out of Sprint by Google down the road or is this just another way for Sprint to hold onto its services longer?" I think Google is being more strategic in their business decisions than we think. They know they possess a competitive product. By partnering up with Sprint they are not only getting an "in" to the telecommunications industry but also building a strong customer following. It's only a matter of time before Google makes implements the next step in there strategy and I would not be surprised if it was at the expense of Sprint. I am interested to see how far Google Voice progresses come when I will be most likely to use it in 2012.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Voice is supporting the trend that has taken over globally. Everyone wants what is most convenient, and if we can get it at low prices it's even better.We have seen technology become smaller and more portable, and today's devices can perform many different functions. A phone is no longer just a phone, and a computer is no longer just a computer. I believe that landlines will soon become obsolete, as cell phones take over the market. Since most technological devices perform the same functions as others, it makes sense to develop one product that does it all. This is where we seem to be heading with smartphones and IPads. Google Voice is a great example of this integration. It combines all your web-based applications with your phone service, making it easier for consumers since everything is in one place. Not only that, but it's cheaper. Google Voice is just the type of system we need to support that all-in-one device that we may see dominating the market in the near future. By incorporating Google Voice, Sprint has given itself an advantage as new technologies are developed for our integrated culture.
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