Google Fiber is Google’s TV and broadband service that is rapidly spreading throughout the country. Fiber TV includes DVR, apps and voice search, and features which Google claims will change the way we think about watching TV forever. The broadband service with 1000 Mbps download and upload speeds is 100 times faster than the internet available to most people today.
So what do you need to know about Fiber?
ISPs will have to react.
Google is offering a service which is extremely competitive in the service provider market, which means other ISPs will have to match it or get left behind. Comcast’s premium internet offers up to 50Mbps and uploads up to 10Mbps with no TV attached, and that’s for $100 per month. Google offers speedier internet and TV for $130.
ISP’s are going to have get faster and cheaper, which is good news for consumers. AT&T announced plans to create their own fiber Gigabit network on the same terms as Google. And Time Warner is upgrading its top speed in Austin to 300 Mbps.
Bandwidth caps
Comcast, which is currently the leading ISP in the U.S doesn’t count streaming from its own streaming video service against its bandwidth caps – which is great. However, Google doesn’t have any caps and includes Netflix within that when it could have highlighted Youtube and Fiber products. This will make a huge difference to people who live in areas that cable hasn’t got to yet, and pay a fortune for high speed internet through their cell phone provider.
Storage
One of the major selling points for Google Fiber is the DVR box. Fiber TV lets consumers record up to 8 shows at a time and has a 2 terabyte hard drive – which means you can store up to 500 hours of HD TV. Those who opt for the internet only package still get 1TB of storage on Google Drive – meaning that their digital assets are accessible from any device wherever they are.
Now the bad news.
Google really will know everything
Google’s apps already know a lot about us – our activity is tracked to help them provide a better service and to give us tailored advertising. Now Google will keep track of our TV consumption too, and seriously, how many tailored ads does one person need? There is a privacy notice, and the company claims that it doesn’t pair Fiber data with other Google service data unless customers give their permission – but how often do you thoroughly read through your privacy settings and terms and conditions?
Compatibility
Fiber TV isn’t compatible with some Google services – Fiber customers can’t access their Google Play accounts on a Fiber TV box – meaning anything you’ve purchased on play isn’t usable on your TV. Hopefully this will be remedied soon, but at the moment if you want a compatibility workaround you’ll need to pay out for a Chromecast stick.