TelecomsTech previously reported on Google’s Fiber initiative, which brings high-speed broadband and TV packages to select neighborhoods in Kansas City.
Alongside the TV service, Google released a mobile app for Android devices, and a corresponding app has now been launched for the iPad.
The iPad app gives users full control over their Fiber TV experience: browsing channels and on-demand catalogs, purchasing content, and watching on-demand programs directly on the tablet.
While the Android app has been available on both smartphones and tablets since last month, Google has not announced whether an iPhone version will be released.
Google Fiber’s TV lineup has expanded quickly in terms of content, though not yet in geographic reach. The service recently added numerous Fox channels as well as a couple of 3D channels, including 3net and ESPN3D.
Although 3D-capable TVs have not yet achieved widespread adoption, that could change by the time Google expands its service beyond its initial markets.
Expansion plans identify Austin, Texas as the next market slated to receive Google Fiber, followed by Provo, Utah. Google has been approved to acquire iProvo’s network in preparation for launching service there.
Early adopters in Kansas City are already using the service. Jennifer Tuttle, a resident of Hanover Heights, told local news: “Everyone wants to know, is it worth it… is it worth the hype? Just lots of questions about how it works.”
That question—whether Fiber is genuinely better and reliably delivers on its promises, or whether the attention is driven mostly by Google’s brand—is a central concern among consumers.
For those curious about a wider rollout, cost estimates show the scale of the challenge. Broadband Genie estimated that building Google Fiber to every home in the United States would cost around $140 billion, and extending a gigabit-capable fiber network worldwide would approach $1.6 trillion.
Google Fiber has generated strong interest because it promises vastly faster speeds and a modern television experience, but its long-term success will depend on factors such as rollout speed, service reliability, pricing, and how quickly complementary technologies and devices—like 3D TVs—gain traction.
Is Google Fiber genuinely transformative or mainly hype? Its future success will hinge on execution and how broadly Google can deploy the infrastructure.