Can Google Free You From Cell Phone Carrier Tyranny?

Google is getting ready to bid on a new swath of wireless licenses. Who cares? Right? Too technical for you but this may be more interesting for your future wireless life than you think.

Google's long rumored ambition to invade the cell phone industry comes with two major plans. Most cell phone carriers sell you a cell phone that you can't use on other networks and sometimes go as far as crippling the cell phone's software to make sure you can't, for instance, download free ringtones or use your mp3 songs as a ringtone.

Google's plan is to sell cell phones that you could use on any carrier (they would have to offer CDMA & GSM combo cell phones) and with the software of your choice, just like what you can already do with a personal computer. Google might also end up offering free or very cheap cell phone service supported by ads, just like its search service. Go Google go!

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