Google Wireless ISP?

Google wi-fi broadband network? — Om Malik hypothesizes. This would be potentially very appealing for both for consumers and advertisers (creates more reliable geotargeting).

"Appealing?" Perhaps that's too tepid — more like boom chaka laka!

If it was free (Google might be advised to charge nominally) it would kill the business models of T-Mobile, Cingular and others that provide (and bill for) wi-fi access from Starbucks, airport locations and more. And if it was truly national, it might also start to pinch the likes of Comcast (my ISP).

In that scenario, Google becomes a telco and would create many enemies. Let's see if it's real.