Google I/O 2015: 5 things to expect

Google I/O is a week away and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what Google has to announce. The yearly conference is set up for developers to network and hone their skills through workshops. However, the main attraction is Google's keynote address, where executives unveil new projects, products and updates from the company.Last year was all about Android; we got a sneak peak atAndroid L (the developer version of what became 5.0 Lollipop), first looks at Android Wear watches, and an intro to Android TV and Android Auto. Google also talked about virtual reality with Cardboard and new Chromebook features.

This year, rumors are flying about Android M, the next generation of the mobile operating system, new wearables and updates on Project Tango. We won't know if any of that is true until Thursday May 28, but the I/O schedule can help clue us in to what Google has to share. That's because Google hosts in-depth sessions based on what they announce at the keynote. Below are some predictions of what we'll see based on that schedule

1. Android updates

There's been a lot of talk of the developer edition of the next version of Android, code named Android M, ever since Google made a reference to it in an I/O session. Soon after the schedule went live, Google removed the session, leading most to believe it was a teaser of what was coming.

While there's no longer of mention of Android M on the I/O agenda, the "What's new in Android" session is kind of a dead giveaway that Google will have news to share. Since Google has several sessions about Material Design, it's highly likely the next version of Android won't have big design changes. However, it looks like we can expect some improved features instead.

The "Notifications, Interruptions and Volumes: Coming Attractions" session flat-out states that Google has refined how notifications behave on Android, so expect changes there. Other sessions clue us in to what might be new, such as better battery performance, updated Smart Lock features, and improvements to how Android apps render on your screen and use your phone's memory.

While Android Auto just recently got some updates, two sessions on the topic, "Getting your app on the road with Android Auto" and "Designing for Driving," suggest Google might have some new developments too.

2. Wearables

There are a few hints that we might see a new wearable and maybe a smartwatch at I/O. First, the session on Google Fit, Google's health dashboard app, could indicate that we'll see a new fitness device for gathering health and activity data.

The next hint is Google's Smart Lock session, which is all about improvements to Smart Lock. It's a feature in Android that lets you unlock your phone or tablet by having a trusted smartwatch close by and it was introduced with Android Lollipop.

We'll definitely see something from the Google Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group, which is responsible for Project Tango, Project Ara and other cool future tech. In a session titled "A little badass. Beautiful. Tech and human. Work and love. ATAP.," there's a mention of wearables that will literally blow your socks off and talk of building "seemingly impossible things." The description also says the team's goal is to create wearables that are engaging and give you rich interactions, despite small screen size limitations. Sounds like promising stuff.

Expect some VR announcements at the show.CNET

3. Virtual reality

Virtual reality has a been a hot topic in the past year, with Oculus Rift making waves, Microsoft creatingHoloLens and Google debuting its quirky take, Google Cardboard, in 2014. This I/O, it looks like the search company is pressing onward with VR.

The "Make Believe" session description doesn't go into much detail, beyond simply inviting developers to "explore virtual reality and how it may change our lives." It's anyone's guess if Google will debut the long-rumored new version of Google Glass, but there's a good chance there will other virtual-reality gadgets.

4. Satellite imaging

Here's a taste of the big-picture stuff Google is known for. Satellite mapping with Skybox, a companyGoogle acquired in 2014, is on the agenda this year and it looks like the next big thing.

In the a session called "The Earth in real time," attendees will learn about the next steps in satellite imaging and how that technology can have real impacts down here on the surface. Google said when it acquired the company that it hopes Skybox's technology can be used to improve Internet access worldwide and provide better disaster relief. Expect to hear more about that at the conference.

5. Smart home

Home automation gets some attention at this year's I/O in the "Working with Nest to build a thoughtful home together" session. Nest is the smart thermostat and smoke alarm company Google acquired in 2014. Nest created the Work with Nest program in 2013 to allow other smart devices, like watches and home automation systems, to work with Nest products.

The session description hints at making your smart-home gadgets and systems work better together, with improved security.

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Google Fiber, Utility Poles & The FCC

If the FCC gives Google access to public telecom infrastructure for deploying Google Fiber, it could open the door for many broadband providers.

One of the advantages for big telecom providers that want to deploy new lines to reach customers is the ability to tap into public infrastructure, such as utility poles and ducts. These physical resources are something that carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast are reluctant to share, especially with Internet companies. But Google is fighting hard to get access in order to reduce the cost of deploying its popular Google Fiber service.

That's why Google is asking the Federal Communications Commission, which is currently considering treating Google Fiber as a telecommunication service, to give the service the same access that other telecom providers have to public infrastructure. This could save the company up to 90% of the cost of wiring homes.

If Google and other fiber providers are given pole access, it could be the beginning of a race
to deploy fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) to many cities and towns, where the cost of digging trenches has deterred many initiatives and protected the monopolies of the entrenched telecom providers.

Current regulations in the US require companies with utility poles in public rights of way to provide access to certified telecommunications providers. In many cities and towns, both public entities such as city governments as well as the incumbent telephone company have deployed infrastructure to reach every home. 

In Europe, where population density in cities is much higher, most of the telecommunications infrastructure runs underground, and cities have invested heavily in deploying dark fiber, which usually runs in the sewer network. When a telecom provider wants to deploy fiber in a building, it taps into the city’s existing fiber network and leases a point-to-point connection to its own data center. That makes deploying FTTH solutions much cheaper. But in the US, cities are generally less dense, and deploying underground fiber to all residential areas represents a huge investment.

The FCC wants to classify services such as Google Fiber as telecommunication services under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. One reason the FCC is moving to reclassify fiber and cable broadband services, including the ones offered by telecom providers, is its push to regulate Net neutrality. Advocates for Net neutrality believe that Title II classification would allow the FCC to protect Internet services by regulating against paid prioritization. 

Specifically, FCC the regulation mandates that it "shall be unlawful for any common carrier to make any unjust or unreasonable discrimination in charges, practices, classifications, regulations, facilities, or services for or in connection with like communication service, directly or indirectly, by any means or device, or to make or give any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any particular person, class of persons, or locality, or to subject any particular person, class of persons, or locality to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage." 

Also, Title II classification would require providers to obtain FCC authorization for raising prices, changing the service, or any other conditions on customer agreements. 

Until now, Internet broadband services were basically excluded from FCC oversight since they were not considered basic telecommunication services under Title II. If the FCC is successful in reclassifying those services, it could add an important layer of regulation and scrutiny to complex Internet broadband offerings. 

Google has deployed its fiber service in a few cities, with high acceptance by consumers. But it is very expensive for the company to reach many areas because of the costs of digging trenches to deploy the fiber lines.

A year ago, the city of Austin, Texas, wanted to change regulations in order to allow Google to access all utility poles, both those owned by the city and by AT&T. "It’s about speed. Obviously being able to attach to existing utility poles makes building fiber and bringing it to Austin residents much faster,” Google spokeswoman Jenna Wandres told the Austin American-Statesman.

AT&T, the incumbent provider of telecom services to the city, fought the move, claiming that Google is not a telecom provider. “Google has the right to attach to our poles, under federal law, as long as it qualifies as a telecom or cable provider, as they themselves acknowledge," AT&T Public Affairs VP Tracy King told the Austin newspaper. "We will work with Google when they become qualified, as we do with all such qualified providers."

Now, the FCC has the opportunity to change all that, and open the gates for many small and big suppliers to compete in an area where the telecom giants face very little competition

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