And Now Google Phone !

[Dj 25]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Google Inc has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in its cell phone project and is courting U.S. and European mobile operators, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Anian, a Reuters company that tracks industry trends for institutional investors, reported last month that Google had engaged Taiwan's High Tech Computer Corp to design a Linux software-based phone for launch in the first quarter of 2008.

The Anian report cited industry sources as saying T-Mobile, owned by Deutsche Telekom, would likely be Google's U.S. partner with France Telecom's Orange selling the phones in other markets.

The Journal said on Thursday Google had also approached the two biggest U.S. wireless services, AT&T Inc and Verizon Wireless, in recent months to ask them to sell phones with Google service.

It cited a Verizon Wireless executive saying the company had decided not to integrate Google's Web search tightly into its phones because of Google's advertising revenue-sharing demands. The newspaper said the executive had not commented on a Google phone.

A person familiar with the situation told Reuters that talks between Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc, and Google have ended without resulting in an agreement.

Representatives for Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T declined to comment.

T-Mobile and Vodafone already incorporate Google search in their mobile Web service in Europe, while AT&T offers it as one of several Web search options.

"We talk to a lot of different companies and we're not going to comment on our discussions with any of them," said Mark Siegel, an AT&T spokesman.

Google said in an e-mailed response that it is "partnering with carriers, manufacturers, and content providers around the world," without giving further details.

t has said wireless was an increasingly important market but it has not announced plans to build a phone. It said last week that Sprint Nextel Corp would feature Google services on devices for a new wireless network the No. 3 U.S. mobile service is building.

Google has also developed prototype phones and talked over technical specifications with manufacturers including LG Electronics, The Wall Street Journal said.

Mobile advertising is still a relatively small market but advertisers and wireless experts expect this to change.

Yankee Group has forecast the mobile ad market will more than quadruple to $275 million in 2007 and eventually grow to $2.2 billion in 2010, up from an estimated $60 million in 2006. Some experts are forecasting an even bigger market.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew and Paritosh Bansal in New York and Nicola Leske in Munich)

[Dj 25]

The persistent rumors surrounding a Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Latest News about Google "Gphone" have been stoked again, this time by a Wall Street Journal article that reports that Google is courting wireless operators to provide an ad-supported mobile phone service to Google-customized handsets.

The Journal article does not directly identify sources of this information, only that it's coming from "people familiar with the plans" and "who have been briefed on it."

Coals Burning for a Long Time

The rumors flared in March after tidbits hit the Web on the news of a Google-manufactured phone, and Google has consistently said very little about its mobile phone plans. Google's more recent lobbying of the Federal Communications Commission Latest News about Federal Communications Commission surrounding the upcoming auction of the 700 MHz (megahertz) spectrum -- where the company wanted the auction winners to be required to resell wireless access to the spectrum to competitors (like Google) at wholesale rates -- has added fuel to the fire.

In addition, the mobile device Web search and mobile application market has been growing, and it's clear to everyone in the industry that Google is keenly interested in mobile ad services. However, it's possible that all of this is simply rumor and that Google is primarily interested in partnering with carriers and taking a back seat to device branding Email Marketing Software - Free Demo or terms of service.

Hardware Prototypes?

The Wall Street Journal, however, reports that Google already has hardware prototypes in hand.

Google's users and partners have been saying they want Google search and Google applications on mobile solutions, and Google is working hard to deliver on those requests, the company said in an e-mail to TechNewsWorld.

"We're partnering with carriers, manufacturers, and content providers around the world to bring Google search and Google applications to mobile users everywhere," Google noted.

What's interesting about Google's open-ended statement is the inclusion of "manufacturers", which seems to imply another level of progress -- is Google working with manufacturers to produce it's own phone? Or is Google working with manufacturers to more directly embed Google solutions on other brands of cell phones? Or both?

Tough Sells to Carriers

Still, even if Google won a portion of the 700 MHz spectrum at auction next year, it would be a long way from being able to build out an infrastructure Make the Mac a 1st Class Citizen in a Windows Shop to support its own Google phone service, and that means Google would have to partner with other carriers that already have their own service infrastructures in place. The obvious key players are AT&T (NYSE: T) Latest News about AT&T, Sprint (NYSE: S) Latest News about Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile Latest News about T-Mobile and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Latest News about Verizon.

AT&T talks to "many, many companies on a variety of topics," AT&T spokesperson Mark Siegel told TechNewsWorld. However, he would not confirm that Google is shopping around an ad-supported mobile service model. Siegel did acknowledge that ad-supported mobile services are "an area we are looking at" but also stressed that AT&T has nothing to announce at this time.

There's only one way to get the carriers to respond -- convince them they will make more money by providing services for a Google-focused phone than they would make without it or by competing against it. Current cell phones are already indispensable to most adult consumers -- why rock the boat?

A Better Product?

Either way, for Google to succeed, it has to produce a better product or fill a growing niche. It's already proven that it can deliver solid products through newer media -- search, Gmail, Google Apps, Google Earth, not to mention its industry-dominating Google advertising programs. However, can Google leverage its brand and applications and reach a new or growing audience? That's the core question.

"We have seen many efforts at ad-supported telecom in the last 10 to 15 years, and they have all failed. It sounds like it should make sense, but it just hasn't made it," Jeff Kagan, a telecommunications industry analyst, told TechNewsWorld.

"We really don't know, if it's ad supported, what that will mean -- what customers may have to listen to or look at in order to make a call, and if that's the case, who will be interested in it," he noted.

"If it's going to be successful, I don't think it's going to be successful for people who can afford a phone. It'll be successful for teenagers, for high school or college students, for anybody who can't afford a cell phone," he added.

Better Than an iPhone?

A so-called "Gphone" -- if the rumored device even ended up carrying the Google brand at all -- would most certainly be a smartphone device. While Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) Latest News about Apple iPhone has opened up the smartphone market to consumers, there may be room for a device that's considerably less expensive than the iPhone's steep US$499 to 599 price tag.

As for the advertisements, it's hard to imagine that consumers would put up with ads or messages that would delay the act of communicating. Google may have some new advertising models in mind.

"We don't know what the model is going to look like," Kagan said. "The good part of this is the ads could all be interactive with Google apps and features -- Gmail, Google's search engine."

Fun Wears Out

With the iPhone, system-oriented messages will sometimes pop up on the screen that require the user to make a choice or otherwise act by tapping the screen. For instance, after iPhone users watch a movie on the iPhone, the iPhone displays a message asking users if they want to delete the video to save storage Manage remotely with one interface -- the HP ProLiant DL360 G5 server. space. Google could easily work similar advertisements into its offerings. After all, Google owns YouTube Latest News about YouTube.

"In the beginning, all this stuff is fun," Kagan said, referring to buttons and messages that require action on mobile devices -- or otherwise disrupt a phone's core functionality. "But after a while ... it's not fun anymore."

[Sadikk 301]

well sky is the limit in telecommunications. expect innovations after innovations.

We are not far from free whole world calling, they are afraid for high speed data on mobile as more and more of customers will opting VoIP calling.

what do u say??

[HetalDP 947]

The OS in Photo look WM6 but in report it is saying something on Linux

Already motorola is doing geate job in Linux Handhelds

[coolrajiv 1]

Great news

Smart phone market is hotting up

[kshah 452]

The OS in Photo look WM6 but in report it is saying something on Linux

Already motorola is doing geate job in Linux Handhelds

I saw motoMing and some other Linux based handset. Both were very reasonably priced and real good features. Now it really tempts me to switch over to GSM from CDMA. Day by day voice clarity and data speed in reliance is decreasing and also now prices are not as cheap as before. Also when phone goes off its real pain to get standby handset and eventually lands up spending much more on handset than GSM.

[coolrajiv 1]

The OS in Photo look WM6 but in report it is saying something on Linux

Already motorola is doing geate job in Linux Handhelds

I saw motoMing and some other Linux based handset. Both were very reasonably priced and real good features. Now it really tempts me to switch over to GSM from CDMA. Day by day voice clarity and data speed in reliance is decreasing and also now prices are not as cheap as before. Also when phone goes off its real pain to get standby handset and eventually lands up spending much more on handset than GSM.

Ya Motorola has got some great mobiles which r powered by Linux .. i am using my reliance cdma connection sparingly(i am on life time scheme ) & using Motorokr E6 for all my outgoing calls ... Motorokr E6 is powered by Lin OS

[Sadikk 301]

The OS in Photo look WM6 but in report it is saying something on Linux

Already motorola is doing geate job in Linux Handhelds

That is not official pic, its made by some guy in other forum.

Its nice work of photoshop.

[copperco2 24]

Check this out guys..

http://www.techshout.com/mobile-phones/200...two-weeks-time/

and the details are-

We all were aware that the Google Phone AKA Gphone was on its way anytime in 2008. But what’s come as quite a startling news is that the device will launch in a fortnight’s time and apparently the company has already began talks with service providers in India for an exclusive launch on one of their networks, according to Rediff.

Bhart Airtel and Vodafone Essar are the prospective companies that may perhaps see the Gphone hitting on their networks.

Further on, reportedly a simultaneous release in the US and Europe is also in the works and announcements would be sent to media firms in India and around the globe. However sources that have given this piece of information also stated that the US regulatory approval, which is expected soon, is the only obstacle that Google is waiting to cross. Google plans to invest $7-8 billion for its global telephony venture.

According to reports, in India, there are talks with the local providers to provide data and content and platforms such as Instant Messaging (IM) and Search functions. But all the same, this bit of information is not yet confirmed.

A Google spokes stated, “We don’t comment on market rumour or speculation. However, Google is committed to providing users with access to the world’s information, and mobile becomes more important to those efforts every day. We’re collaborating with partners worldwide to bring Google search and applications to mobile users everywhere. However, we have nothing to announce at this time.”

Some days ago, Google had apparently shown a Google Phone prototype to mobile phone operators in the US, and was said to be in talks with handset makers.

According to Rediff.com Google only needs FCC approval and it’s ready for launch. Now it’s certainly not ‘only’ an FCC approval, cause that but has a lot of importance to it for sure.

The Apple iPhone is expected to launch in India in early 2008, or maybe even as early as 2007-end. In that case, the Gphone could perhaps pose a cut throat competition to Apple’s device.

[coolrajiv 1]

Source - http://www.tech2.com/india/news/smart-mobi...e-phone/15741/0

HTC May Develop Google Phone

The Google Phone has been in the works for a long time. Concepts for this phone have been floating around for ages. Of course nothing is conclusive as to whether or not Google is actually going to be coming out with a mobile of their own.

However, some of the designs are way out there and look astounding. What specs these mobiles will have are also a little vague. But there’s no harm in dreaming, is there?

Naturally, we expect it to have G-Talk, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Search as standard applications. Let's not forget YouTube as another feature that's likely to be included by default. Apparently, all of this could be going down in Google’s office in Cambridge, UK, but it’s all very hush-hush.

It also looks likely that HTC just might be the guys hired to get the phone off the drawing board. According to Om Malik down at gigaom , he has a bit of a scoop on a few facts that Google is incorporating into their phone. For instance, he says it should run on a Mobile Linux platform and have Java capability.

The biggest question on everybody’s mind is – will it be here before the next-gen iPhone and how will it compare? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what Google comes up with. When we get the dope you can bet you’ll know as well!

[copperco2 24]

http://www.rimweb.in/forums/index.php?showtopic=10191

i wasnt aware of this thread on google phone..

i guess now it could get merged in with this one to avoid duplicacy..

i request moderators to do the needful.

thanks.

[Honest 836]

Google phone won't be an immediate game changer

15 Sep, 2008, 1257 hrs IST, ET

NEW YORK: Anyone expecting the soon- to-be-launched Google phone to change the market like Apple's iPhone has over the past year will likely be disappointed - for now.

Industry insiders who have worked on Google Inc's Android mobile operating system say it will struggle in the near term to match the consumer enthusiasm generated by Apple Inc when its iPhone redefined the touch-screen phone market and greatly improved mobile Web surfing.

Instead, Google sees Android as an open-source platform for designing mobile devices, saying it will encourage innovation by allowing outside software developers to tinker with the system and create better mobile programs and services. But these things take time and the first phone using Android, code-named the Google "Dream" phone, is unlikely to wow consumers.

The device is made by Taiwan's HTC Corp. Sources familiar with the plan say Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile plans to introduce it in New York on Sept. 23. "I'm not sure the consumer experience is significantly better than that of the iPhone," says Rajeev Chand, a wireless analyst at investment bank Rutberg & Co, who has tried out an early version of Android. "When the iPhone came out the experience was several orders of magnitude better than anything that was out there."

Google, its partner carriers and application developers hope the Android platform will drive even more mobile Web surfing than the iPhone, which has helped Web usage rocket in comparison to other smartphones. But unlike Apple, which keeps a tight grip on the iPhone's hardware and software, Google will have less control as Android will be open to developers to create component technologies in almost any way they can imagine. Google's engineering-led culture appears content to launch the first Android phones as a kind of science project that will be rapidly improved afterward.

Google has produced big hits and plenty of hard-to-remember misses with its strategy of launching new ideas and iterating quickly. Yet, Google will not have the kind of leverage in mobile that it is used to in the PC world, where it dominates search. Phone carriers have a huge say over how devices are designed and what data services are accessible over their networks.

While Android could offer real promise in terms of technology and usability - particularly because it is an open platform - it is unlikely to single-handedly change the restrictive nature of the mobile industry, said John Poisson, founder of Tiny Pictures, a developer partner of Android. "Carriers in each market will still control how it gets implemented and on which devices and in which form," Poisson said. "Android lives and breathes at the pleasure of the operator."

BRAND AWARENESS

Another problem for Android is how to explain what it is to consumers. Unlike the iPhone, which came on the back of Apple's hugely successful iPod music player, Android is an unknown brand, even though the Google name has plenty of cache. "People forget these things get to customers through the retail channel and marketing," said Frank Meehan, the global general manager for handsets and applications for Hong Kong telecommunications conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.

"We operators struggle with how to market this phone. There's nothing really unique about it and we can't say it's a Google phone," said Meehan, whose company buys millions of 3G devices year. Despite the concerns, mobile industry executives say they welcome Google's entrance as its deep pockets will help meet the increasingly high expectations of consumers for mobile services.

From a developer's perspective, Android's advantages over the iPhone or Nokia's Symbian operating system is that it is open source, which means Google is sharing its software code and making it easier for third parties to develop compatible applications. Apple's second-generation iPhone applied the same strategy and offers more than 3,000 third-party applications through its App Store, but the company still retains some control.

"Android promises to be the most open platform for building mobile phone applications that we've seen to date because it's based on very familiar tools and technologies," said Jason Devitt, co-founder of Skydeck, a new service that will allow users to manage their cell phones over the Web. Others hope that Google's entrance can galvanize mobile advertising, which is still in nascent stages.

"All these devices are resulting in better usage and that's what advertisers want and they're growing their spend," said Jason Spero, vice president of marketing at AdMob, a marketplace for mobile advertisers. Google is hoping to generate revenue through its existing search advertising and related services by the addition of mobile to PC.

"Google's power comes from the freedom of choice, in terms of the component technology and services that can be laid on top," said Cheng Wu, founder of Azuki Systems, a mobile Web technology company. "The only thing they want to control is the kernel of the operating system and the ability to data mine for search and advertising down the road."