In the past few weeks, Google's mobile play has come into greater focus with the arrival of Android, the company's open mobile operating system. In that time, rumors have also circulated that the search giant may be interested in buying Sprint. But a report in The Wall Street Journal suggests that Google's plan to bid on wireless spectrum in January could be the beginning of a Google wireless network to rival the likes of Verizon and AT&T. 

According to the WSJ story, Google is already running a wireless network at its Mountain View, Calif. headquarters as part of a crash course in carrier 101.

Earlier this year, Google ruffled carrier feathers when it tried to persuade the FCC to change the rules for the upcoming wireless spectrum auction. Despite the fact that the FCC refused to go along with all of Google's proposed changes, the company said it would still participate in the auction. Google had wanted the FCC to mandate that the winner of the spectrum be required to sell spectrum to its competitors at wholesale prices.