Rumors are flying that the do-no-evilers over at Google are getting ready to launch the much-speculated-upon ‘Gphone’—or at least the software and services needed for such a phone to function. The rumor-mill flames were fanned by a Wall Street Journal article this morning, which quoted “people familiar with the matter” as saying that a Gphone software unveiling will be coming soon.
According to the Wall Street Journal’s report, Google’s goal with its allegedly upcoming release is to “make applications and services as accessible on cellphones as they are on the Internet.” Rich Tehrani predicted in a blog post earlier today that it’s unlikely Gphone can be any more wow-worthy than Apple’s iPhone.
“Somehow I have trouble believing Google will have a device anywhere near as useful as Apple’s iPhone,” Tehrani wrote. “In addition, I think the audience attracted to a Gphone are already iPhone users.”
The Wall Street Journal article hinted, however, that in developing its version of the mobile phone, Google is taking on a much bigger mission than simply wowing consumers with cool and useful features: the company’s “do no evil” focus on openness and universal information access means it is in for a tough fight against the established dynamic of the U.S. cellphone industry, in which service providers (carriers) have ‘considerable clout,’ controlling distribution of phones through retail stores.
“Google is trying to loosen the grip wireless carriers have over the software and services consumers can access on cellphones,” Wall Street Journal said in its report.
That’s quite a noble mission, and just the sort of gargantum task that Google would take on. I wish the company luck.
Wall Street Journal said that within a fortnight, Google will be releasing software and services designed to enable handset manufacturers to develop and release their own Google-powered phones by the middle of 2008. The company allegedly is in talks with various manufacturers, both in the U.S. and abroad, regarding the production of Gphone devices. Which companies? Speculation is that the list includes HTC and LG Electronics.
Partnerships with wireless carriers are also in the works, Wall Street Journal said. Which ones? Most likely are T-Mobile (the U.S. arm of Deutsche Telekom AG) in the U.S. and Orange SA and 3 U.K. in Europe.
Not too surprisingly, Wall Street Journal said Gphone will tie together a variety of Google applications and services, including Google Maps, a search engine, Gmail and YouTube. The company reportedly is aiming to have the phone software (including the OS) be completely open so independent software developers can build their own Gphone applications.
All I can say is, we live in exciting times. Stay tuned.
