Google Fiber is now in Austin, Texas. Austinites can now experience Gigabit Internet speed. In conjunction with the rollout of Fiber, Google opened a multimedia community meeting place they call “Fiber Space” in downtown Austin.
Head of Google Fiber in Austin Mark Strama and his team opened their doors to the public to demonstrate their new fiber optic ecosystem connecting internet, TV, mobile devices and even wearables at Gigbit speeds.
Strama calls it “a place where anybody from the public can come and take Google Fiber for a test drive.”
Here’s a look inside:
And just like with their devices, Google hopes the Fiber Space will be all about connection.
“We’ll host town hall meetings and political discussions,” Strama said of the space. “We’ll host documentary screenings and movie premiers, we’ll host school field trips and probably a little bit of live music.”
Strama believes that Austin is the place to take Google Fiber to the next level.
“Do you doubt that when that when the creators, the entrepreneurs in Austin, get access to Gigabit speed, that they will come up with some really awesome new business models?”
“I’d love to see transformational healthcare delivery services, immersive online educational experiences, I’m sure there will be killer gaming applications,” Strama said when asked about what areas Google Fiber could have an impact.
But even with all the speed and groundbreaking technology perhaps the most popular part may end up being the most simple.
When asked what his favorite part of the Fiber ecosystem was, Strama said, “I love that remote control. Look, I’m a total geek about the speed too, but I’ve talked so much about the speed, I feel like everyone in Austin has heard me talk about speed.”
The Fiber Space is now open to the public, but if you want to host a special event, you need more than money.
“We wouldn’t rent it out,” Strama explains, “but for the right community groups with the right value proposition if its good for the community, we will open the space up for them.”
As for the cost of Google Fiber, it is $70 for just Gigabit service. Gigabit service plus basic TV, which includes 150 HD channels, costs $130 a month. And for those who can’t afford Gigabit service, Google is offering a 5 MBPS internet fiber connection for a one time $300 installation fee with no monthly fee for the first seven years.
If you are looking to get Google Fiber in your neighborhood, you can go to Google Fiber Austin’s website and sign a petition. Your area needs 10,000 signatures to qualify for the service.
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