Yesterday T-Mobile, Today Verizon and Sprint
Interest in Google’s G-Phone is starting to increase as rumors continue to circulate that the Internet search giant will unveil the new software and services in the coming weeks, with the phone set to go on sale in mid-2008. The Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch.com both reported yesterday that Google was in discussions with T-Mobile to provide the wireless service (see yesterday’s article from NewsVisual). Today The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google is in “advanced talks” with carriers Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel (see Amol Sharma’s article from The Wall Street Journal). Because of the large amount of buzz generated by this story we decided to create IntellectSpace Knowledge Maps of Google’s corporate ties to both Verizon and Sprint Nextel. These Knowledge Maps (along with the one of Google’s ties to T-Mobile) should allow us to determine if any service provider has an advantage (Note: the information contained and presented in Knowledge Maps is public information from the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America).
In the first Knowledge Map between Google and Verizon, the strongest tie is through MCI. Former Google Director Vinton Cerf was a Director at MCI from 1999 until their purchase by Verizon in 2006. Judith Haberkorn was a Director of Bell Atlantic (a predecessor of Verizon) until 2000 and also a Director at MCI until 2005. Both Cerf and Haberkorn likely retain strong ties to their former companies and have overlapping contacts at Verizon.
Another interesting connection is through Princeton University. Google Director Shirley Tilghman currently serves as President of Princeton. As President of one of the most prestigious universities in the world, one of Tilghman’s jobs is to maintain contact with important alumni, both individually and through alumni organizations. One of those important alumni is Frank Carlucci. Carlucci, besides being a former Director of Bell Atlantic, is a former State Department and CIA official and served as National Security Advisor and Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan. A person with Carlucci’s years of experience usually maintains a large number of contacts. It’s plausible that Carlucci could have provided Tilghman with an introduction to one of his former contacts at Bell Atlantic, now Verizon.
It is also worth pointing out that Google and Verizon have been in a public sparring match recently, as Verizon has fought off Google’s efforts to force wireless carriers to open their networks to more services. Verizon had appealed rules that Google pushed through the Federal Communications Commission, however recently Verizon has dropped the appeal. Whether or not this related to a possible deal between Google and Verizon remains to be seen.
In the Knowledge Map between Google and Sprint the strongest ties involve Google Director John Doerr. Doerr was a former Director at Liberty Media where he worked alongside Robert Bennett, Director at Sprint Nextel and former President/CEO of Liberty Media. Doerr and Bennett are probably familiar with each other or at the very least maintain overlapping contacts.
Another notable tie involving Doerr is through Handspring Inc, where Doerr was Director from 1998-2003. Towards the end of his tenure Doerr worked with William Kennard, currently a Director at Handspring and until recently also a Director at Sprint. Both men likely have overlapping contacts.
While these ties most likely will not determine which service carrier Google will partner with, they do provide insight into what channels Google might have used to initiate talks. In the end Google will go with the carrier that provides the best deal with the largest number of subscribers.
Click here for an interactive version of these IntellectSpace Knowledge Maps (Internet Explorer browsers only):
Google-Verizon: http://nv.intellectspace.com
Google-Sprint Nextel: http://nv.intellectspace.com
Great stuff, I am praying they go with Sprint....since I work for them....
Posted by: Duker | November 01, 2007 at 04:01 PM