Google today announced that it has acquired Rhode Island-based ICOA, Inc. in a deal worth $400 million, as it looks to “further diversify it’s already impressive portfolio of companies.” ICOA provides wireless broadband Internet in high-traffic public areas, which include marinas, restaurants and airports, and offers Wi-Fi hotspot design, installation and maintenance.
ICOA, Inc. owns or manages over 1,500 broadband hotspot locations in the U.S, spanning 45 states. Some of its largest networks cover RV parks and campgrounds, and it also offers service to a large number of retailers. It partners with Boingo, iPass, Broadsky and a number of other public Wi-Fi providers as well. Originally founded as Quintonix in 1983, the company changed its name to ICOA, Inc. in 1989.
Google has displayed interest in building out public Wi-Fi networks in the past. It introduced Google WiFi in Mountain View in 2006, providing free Wi-Fi access to around 12 square miles encompassing most of the city where its headquarters are housed. Originally, Google had committed to offering it for free only until 2010, but as of this writing it’s still available.
Providing user with Wi-Fi access in an expansion of that program is one possible outcome of this purchase. Google clearly gains by getting users online; I’ve argued in the past that its hardware strategy is based around providing Internet access to the most people for the least amount of money. Taking control of public Wi-Fi networks could be another way to approach that same goal.
Google also announced in September that it would be sponsoring free Wi-Fi access at 4,000 Boingo hotspots in the U.S., available to Android mobile devices and notebook PCs. The sponsorship was linked to the Google Play brand, and was clearly aimed at getting more Android smartphone users doing more with their devices on public Wi-Fi networks.
We’ve reached out to Google for more details on this acquisition, and will update when more info becomes available.
