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Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Stick this one firmly in the rumor category, since all the verbiage that’s been thrown around about this story still traces back to one single source: a slightly ill-informed article done up in MarketingWeek in the UK. The article cites unspecified “senior industry sources,” and goes on about how this is Dell and Google working closely together on what is more or less the “Gphone.” Since we have no reason to believe Google is going to jeopardize its Android OS by getting extra-friendly with one specific manufacturer, the primary weight we can give to this rumor is that fact that Dell picked up a former Motorola executive, Ron Garriques, to run its Global Consumer Group early last year. Other rumors have cropped up over the years about Dell moving in this direction, so it certainly wouldn’t signal the apocalypse if a Dell-branded Android phone does show up at this rumored unveiling at 3GSM, but giving how early on Android is at the moment, we’ll believe it when we see it.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Source: Paul Miller

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San Ramon, CA based a la mobile has become the first company to offer a complete package of applications based on Google’s Android mobile phone operating system.

A a la mobile demo unit includes a Google browser, phone dialer, audio player, Google maps, camera, games, calendar, contacts manager, calculator and notes installed on a HTC Qtek 9090.

According to a USA Today report, although a la mobile is not a member of the Open Handset Alliance, it intends to pitch the prototype to handset makers.

Andy Rubin, Google’s senior director of mobile platforms told the paper that the coalition is on track to roll out an official Android-based phone in the second half of this year.

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Source: Duncan Riley

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Filed under: Cellphones

As any avid Engadget reader knows, the persistent Google Phone rumor — begun so many eons ago (er, last year) — has been on the fast track as of late, with varying reports coming in concerning specific information such as launch date, OS, and the existence of prototypes. Well, now it looks like we’ve got another handful of data to add to the veritable mini-mountain of specs / info we’ve ascertained about the presently-vaporous device. According to “reliable sources,” specific aspects of the GPhone are coming to light — the first suggesting that the phone will run on a Linux variant (which is nothing new), and will be Java Virtual Machine-capable. Additionally, the OS of the phone will be Java-based (as well as the all phone apps itself), and performance is said to be “very responsive.” The browser for the phone will be new (though some say it’s based on the WebKit core, which Safari is built atop) and will tout “pan-and-browse” capabilities. Finally, the word is that HTC is manufacturing the handsets, and instead of a single form-factor for the prototype, there are a variety of phones, all with QWERTY keyboards (one article suggests the phone will be “simpler” and less “flashy” than the iPhone, with less screen space, and a BlackBerry / Treo form-factor). Certainly a lot of information, though — just as certainly — speculation and rumor right now, and if the past year has taught any lesson, it’s to proceed with extreme skepticism.

Read — Five Facts About Google Phone
Read — Introducing the Google Phone

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Source: Joshua Topolsky

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An interesting new patent was published August 30 that would suggest that Google is developing a mobile phone payment system.

The Text Message Payment patent details a system where by Google offers a mobile focused payments under the title of GPay.

Examples of payment scenarios given in the patent include paying for goods from a vending machine, as well as purchasing items directly from offline retailers.

Whilst it’s certainly possible that the GPay Mobile payments system could well be platform independent, given the very strong indication that Google is preparing to launch a mobile phone, GPay could end up as an exclusive GPhone offering, one that gives Google the jump over other mobile operators by enabling mobile payments natively from the handset.

Mobile payment systems aren’t new; I can pay for parking locally via mobile phone now, however what Google is suggesting in the patent is something that is far broader, and perhaps more importantly independent of mobile phone carriers and their billing systems. Google competitor PayPal currently offers their own mobile payments system, but despite launching in March it hasn’t set the world on fire; Google on the other hand would have the advantage of embedding GPay in the GPhone.

Thanks to Patrick for the tip.

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Source: Duncan Riley

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Todays completely unsubstantiated rumor comes from Rediff News, a usually well respected source of news based in India. Rediff is reporting that the Google Phone is set to be launched in 2 weeks time! The GPhone is said to simultaneously launch in both Europe and the United States, with the only thing standing in Google’s way being US regulatory approval.

The report goes on to claim that Google is believed to be in talks with a number of Indian telcos.

If speculation is any guidance, the certainty of there being some sort of Google mobile device in development is a given. The Register reported in March that a European Google executive confirmed the existence of the GPhone and other reports go back to 2006; Om Malik reporting in December that a Google phone was being developed for release in 2008. Engadget posted alleged pictures of the GPhone in January 07 (see pic) with notes claiming that the device was a button-less touchscreen phone that came with GPS built-in for pinpoint navigation around Google Maps. ZDNet wrote that the phone was said to be 3G with built in Wifi and was designed by Samsung. The Register again reported in early August that the GPhone would include 3G, Wifi and GPS, and that UK mobile operator Orange was in talks with Google to carry the device.

Google has continued to deny rumors of the phones existence, but has taken a more public interest lately in the mobile phone sector, confirming that it was likely to bid for a slice the soon to be released 700mhz spectrum in the United States. Google as a mobile phone operator would make a lot more sense if Google were also preparing a GPhone that was automatically fine tuned to work with Google’s variety of applicable services, including Gmail, Maps and Google Docs.

Any Google phone will also be immediately compared to Apple’s iPhone. Whilst the iPhone provides an attractive package, it has so far only taken a small marketshare in the US cellular market, and is yet to have been released anywhere else in the world. A 3G (and therefore quicker) internet focused GPhone with a broad release worldwide could well present a strong competitor to Apple.
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Source: Duncan Riley

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Filed under: Cellphones

According to reports out of India, Google is currently in talks with country’s first and third largest telecos, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, concerning everyone’s favorite mobile rumor: the Google Phone. Based on information coming from Rediff’s India Abroad, an exclusive launch — happening in a highly questionable two weeks — is being discussed between the companies, and would tie into a simultaneous debut of the Gphone in both the US and Europe, coupled with announcements in India and other parts of the world. The only hurdle, they say, is approval from regulatory agencies (such as the FCC, we would assume). The report goes on to suggest that Google has plans to invest $7-8 billion in its telephony plot, though there has been practically zero confirmation from the company. When asked about the possibility of the Google mobile phone making an appearance soon, a spokesperson for the search-portal-giant said, “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.” So, while you can never, truly rule out a sudden showing of the Gphone, definitely don’t go banking on it either.

[Thanks, Binil]

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Source: Joshua Topolsky

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Filed under: Cellphones

We all know that when rumors start to heat up, well, it just means there’s more to speculate about. Nevertheless, new reports from both the BBC and The Wall Street Journal do a fine job of getting our hopes up, as it’s noted that Google refused to outrightly deny handset rumors; rather, it simply reiterated that its users and partners are saying that “they want Google search and Google applications on mobile, and it is working hard every day to deliver that.” Furthermore, it’s now believed that the search giant is “showing the prototype to cellphone manufacturers and network operators as it continues to hone the technical specifications.” Make of that what you will, but it sounds pretty enticing over here.

[Thanks, Omar A. and Ala A.]
Read - Google sidesteps mobile reports
Read - Google shows phone prototype to manufacturers

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Source: Darren Murph

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Filed under: Cellphones

Rumors about about a possible Google phone have run so hot and cold recently that it’s hard to keep up, but AppleInsider is reporting that the big G is making a big push in developing their own handset. AI says that investment guidance firm Anian has issued a report quoting a development budget in the “hundreds of millions” of dollars and that HTC is being tapped to build a Linux-based Gphone to be launched on T-Mobile in the US in early 2008, with Orange getting the exclusive in France and other countries. Anian also says Google has been in talks with Verizon and AT&T, and that Verizon has already shot the big G down — much like it did with Apple and the iPhone. As always, rumors are just rumors, so we’ll wait and see, but it’s hard to ignore the amount of buzz that the Gphone’s been getting.

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Source: Nilay Patel

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