The two companies were on opposite sides of the net neutrality debate. So they initiated talks aimed at coming up with a compromise where some progress could be achieved in the face of FCC and congressional inaction. For Google, it's a lesson in growing up.
Sam's Club, the discount warehouse owned by Wal-Mart, becomes the latest big retail chain to offer free wireless Internet at all of its U.S. stores.
Google and Verizon drew lots of criticism last week with a Web-traffic pact rumored to favor higher-paying providers. Now, the companies have unveiled a proposal that pays homage to the concept of net neutrality, at least in the short term.
It's aiming to attract new customers away from cable and satellite providers with a 30-day, no obligation, lock-in-the-price-for-two-years contract. Verizon is also launching a new month-to-month billing plan.
Beginning July 1, the coffee company is joining -- somewhat belatedly -- other chains that offer free WiFi service. The nationwide partnership with Yahoo will soon after expand to provide free access to many paid websites and services.
Thanks to the power of the Internet, it's getting harder for companies to control how we communicate and entertain ourselves. Google's new phone runs an app that enables users to make international calls far cheaper than with any wireless carrier. That's just one sign of growing consumer influence through the Net.
