Find balloon. Collect $100.

Photo by Crystl

If you've ever lost a balloon or seen it float up in the air and away from the security of your hand, you'll most likely have felt the emptiness that goes with it. That feeling in your stomach that you've lost something worth so much. Think of the fun you could have had with the helium. That game of balloon tennis you were planning on playing. Or just the fact that you were hoping to brighten up your room.

Well it won't make you feel much better to know that somewhere a farmer is collecting $100 for that balloon. That's right...$100. That is of course if your balloon contains a small (micro) base station for providing connectivity to truckers and oil companies.

Gigoam reported today that Google are thinking of teaming up with Space Data Corp who send these balloons up 20 miles. They only last 24 hours and then they gracefully fall to earth after deploying a handy parachute they've been provided with. How nice.

"The Internet giant — which is now pushing into wireless services — has considered contracting with Space Data or even buying the firm, according to one person…Google believes balloons like these could radically change the economics of offering cellphone and Internet services in out-of-the-way areas, according to people familiar with its thinking."

The equipment in the balloons is said to be worth $1500 so if you find one, don't settle for the measly $100 they'll offer you. Who would have thought that 'balloon hunting' could be a viable profession?

Update: As has been pointed out, this story was first mentioned in the Wall Street Journal. I just didn't mention it because it was such a long winded and less interesting story.

Comments

[anonymous]

Fyi - GigaOm was rounding up a story that was in the Wall Street Journal today.

[Dave Shaw]

Thanks for the comment. Yeah, I spotted that, but the story wasn't nearly as interesting as presented in the Wall Street Journal and I suspected people would enjoy reading it more from GigaOm. I'll update the story so it shows it was from them.