Floating a New Idea For Going Wireless, Parachute Included

FLOATING A NEW IDEA FOR GOING WIRELESS, PARACHUTE INCLUDED
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amol Sharma amol.sharma@wsj.com]
Jerry Knoblach wants to bring wireless service to millions of rural Americans. His plan: Beam it down from balloons hovering at the edge of space. This isn't just hot air. His company, Space Data Corp., already launches 10 balloons a day across the Southern U.S., providing specialized telecom services to truckers and oil companies. His balloons soar 20 miles into the stratosphere, each carrying a shoebox-size payload of electronics that acts like a mini cellphone "tower" covering thousands of square miles below. His idea has caught the eye of Google Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. The Internet giant -- which is now pushing into wireless services -- has considered contracting with Space Data or even buying the firm.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120347353988378955.html?mod=todays_us_page_one
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