Comcast appears to have a new trick up its sleeve. The cable operator is reportedly looking to create a mobile phone service that would mostly rely on Wi-Fi, according to a report by The Information. The alleged service would use Wi-Fi from wireless routers and public hotspots in areas where those services are available; and, in more rural zones, the service would lease spectrum from common cellular carriers, like Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T. While definitely a first for a major company, smaller carriers in the US — such as Republic Wireless — are already using this kind of service. Republic’s low-cost plans start at $5 a month for the most basic service that include unlimited talk, text messaging, and data service while in Wi-Fi hot spots only. Like Comcast’s purported plan, Republic uses both Wi-Fi and cellular wireless technology to offer users its mobile service.
Read the full story at CNET, or the original report at The Information (paywall).