An FCC application filed by Google, Inc. suggests the possibility of a Google entertainment device is in the works. The application requests permission for a six month window in which this mystery device can be tested at the Google HQ as well as in Google employees' homes in four different cities: Mountain View CA, Los Angeles CA, Cambridge MA, and New York, NY. The description of the device and purpose of operation describes what sounds similar to Android @Home, which was announced at last years Google I/O. Excerpt from the application after the break.
Please explain in the area below why an STA is necessary:
Google is developing an entertainment device that requires testing outside the laboratory environment. The device is in the prototyping phase and will be modified prior to final compliance testing.
Please explain the purpose of operation:
Testing throughput and stability of home WiFi networks using an entertainment device. Testing will include functional testing of all subsystems, including WiFi and Bluetooth radio. Users will connect their device to home WiFi networks and use Bluetooth to connect to other home electronics equipment. This line of testing will reveal real world engineering issues and reliability of networks. The device utilizes a standard WiFi/Bluetooth module, and the planned testing is not directed at evaluating the radio frequency characteristics of the module (which are known), but rather at the throughput and stability of the home WiFi networks that will support the device, as well as the basic functionality of the device. From this testing we hope to modify the design in order to maximize product robustness and user experience. Utilizing the requested number of units will allow testing of real world network performance and its impact on applications running on the device, so that any problems can be discovered and addressed promptly. All devices will be used by and registered to specific individuals (all Google employees), and Google will maintain a record of each device, so that they can be easily recalled at any time during testing and when testing is complete. The devices will be tested at Google facilities and within employees residences in the following areas: Mountain View, CA: 37.421265 N, -122.085314 W; Los Angeles, CA: 33.995388 N, -118.477035 W; Cambridge, MA: 42.362754 N, -71.088023 W; and New York, NY: 40.741872 N, -74.004579 W.
You can read the rest of the technical details of the application by visiting the source link below. If it isn't Android @Home, what could Google possibly be cooking up now?
Source: FCC Application
Probably a set-top GoogleTV box.