The Google Phone has been rumored for a long time. In fact, before it was revealed that Google's moves into cell phones were related to an pp phone OS, Android, everyone thought that was going to be the Google Phone, or gPhone. Recent rumors have indicated moves toward a real Google Phone, as opposed to say a Motorola Droid were in progress, and now it seems it may nearly be here.
In fact, when the rumors first started way back in time, the Google phone even got concept art around it. Such is an example above, before we first knew it was just an OS.
Now, to be clear, however, this isn't a Google phone the way the iPhone is an Apple phone. It will be a Google-branded phone, as opposed to a Motorola-branded phone, a Samsung-branded phone, and the like. That means it will only have Google on it, but in reality, Google isn't getting into the hardware manufacturing business.
Instead, as expected, the Google phone appears to be an HTC-manufactured phone. Reportedly, these new phones have been given out in quantities to Google employees, unlocked (GSM), running Android 2.1. Reports seem to be targeting a January release.
Many of the reports seem to be coming from tweets from Google employees. One such example is a Google program manager, who tweeted:
Stuck in mass of traffic leaving work post last all hands of 2009. ZOMG we had fireworks and we all got the new Google phone. It's beautiful
It should be noted that it is a good thing that Leslie Hawthorn works for Google and not Apple. Such revelations about an announced Apple product would result in immediate termination. So far, now so with this Google phone tweet.
It is still unusual to see such a flurry of activity on public social media forums over the Google phone, however. Usually, any such internal announcement would be prefaced by a warning about revealing any information. That points to the Google phone possibly being publicly announced in a few days.
Other tweets, including some from a C|Net podcaster, indicate that the Google phone is indeed an HTC phone running Android 2.1. That obviously, also points to an AT&T or T-Mobile launch in the U.S.
Remember, however, that this is still an HTC phone, branded by Google. The differentiation, therefore, will be less from a hardware point of view, and more from Android 2.1. That is why the name app phone has become popular, rather than smartphone. The new Google phone will be successful because of the applications that run on it, and particularly the 3rd-party applications.
The question will remain, as this now appears to be close to reality, how the Google phone will affect the relationship Google has with other hardware manufacturers like Motorola and Samsung. They will hardly be pleased to see the Google phone suddenly take top position in anything that Google presents in terms of the Android platform.
Another question, though most likely a non-starter, is if Google will eventually manufacture hardware itself. Google's approach to all its initiatives are aimed, even if seemingly far afield, at advancing its online initiatives. It's unclear if manufacturing itself would add to that, but certainly the Android OS does so.
If rumors hold true, there may be officiai announcements on the Google phone in the next few days. Expect some sort of follow-up press release from Samsung, Motorola, Palm, and more if that happens.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
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