Google is preparing a new ability to tell you your broadband speed as part of a search request
Google is beefing up its search capabilities with all kinds of new and useful services, the latest of which could soon be the ability to tell you how fast your broadband connection really is.
Until now, most users would use the Ookla Net Speed Test to check the resilience of their broadband connection.
And, in recent weeks, streaming player Netflix revealed its new Fast.com service, which gives you a speedy appraisal of what your broadband speed actually is.
But now it appears Google is also moving into this area and users who ask “how fast is my internet connection”, for example, will get the answer in their search results.
The new service was spotted by eagle-eyed Twitter user Dr Pete Meyers, who also revealed a Google support page that outlines the new service.
Looks like Google is testing their own internet speed test (query = "check internet speed") – not seeing it live — pic.twitter.com/wjsPIlEbFv
— Dr. Pete Meyers (@dr_pete) June 27, 2016
It is understood that Google has partnered with Measurement Lab (M-Lab). A typical test, which takes about 30 seconds, uses 9.4MB of data in the US while outside the US it uses 4.4MB of data.
It’s an interesting new departure from Google, which yesterday (28 June) signed a deal with LyricFind to put song lyrics into search results.
So, what next? Perhaps a widget in Chrome that acts as a kind of accelerometer to give you a real-time view of your broadband connection. Just a thought …
Broadband speed image via Shutterstock
