CALIFORNIA (Web Desk) – Google is considering different ways to get rid of roaming charges around the globe after announcing to launch its own mobile network.
The tech giant is said to be in talks with Hutchison Whampoa, the owner of the Three network, to let its users make calls and send texts in any country at no extra cost.
Industry sources said the firms are discussing a ‘wholesale access agreement’ that would help Google create a global network, report Daily Mail.
Customers would then be able to use this global network to make calls, send texts and use data as part of their plan, regardless of where in the world they are.
In particular, a deal with Hutchison would extend the service to the UK, Ireland, Italy and Spain. but the plans would only affect the small base of customers on Google’s plan.
Three already offers a similar scheme called Feel at Home that lets customers use their phones and their plans in 18 countries.
Google’s vice president Sundar Pichai confirmed rumours his firm was launching a mobile network plan during during a talk at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February.
It will be initially offered to cities that have Google Fiber, such as Kansas, Texas and Utah and Google is working with network operators on developing the cellular plan.
‘You will see us announce it in the coming months, I think we are at a stage where it is important to think about hardware, software and connectability together,’ said the 43-year-old.
The rumours of a Google mobile network plan first emerged in April last year.
Instead of building masts, Google will buy access to existing 3G and 4G networks at wholesale prices and sell the connectivity back to customers at a cheaper rate.
