Google wants to make international roaming free

Google is reportedly in talks with Hutchinson Whampoa, owner of the mobile operator Three in the UK, to make international roaming for Americans free of additional costs.

In a bid to create a global network that will cost the same to use for calls, texts, and data, irrespective of where the user is located, the search giant is mulling a wholesale access agreement that could help it debut in the US mobile market with its own network.

A report in The Telegraph notes that by tying up with Hutchinson, Google could gain wholesale acesss to mobile service in the UK, Ireland, Italy, and several other countries where the Hong Kong-based investment company owns mobile networks.

Industry sources have revealed that Hutchinson made a natural partner for Google as it also aims to scrap roaming charges for its Three customers.

Last month Google had announced its plan to launch a mobile network, without building mobile masts but relying on wholesale deals to use existing infrastructure both at home and abroad.

With this 'small scale' project, it is expected that the search giant intends to use its network to pressurise the pricing of America's biggest mobile operators, AT&T and Verizon, who enjoy more profit than their European counterparts.

Although possible applications could include encouraging investment in new technology by the operators to improve their mobile coverage via Wi-Fi networks, an entry in the mobile network market by the likes of Google and Apple is sure to make the telecom industry uncomfortable.

The industry is already resisting Apple's intention to do away with SIM cards and replace them with a software that allows iPad owners to select any available network, thereby threatening the core purpose of existence of the mobile operators.