The "GPhone" will be built with "Android" inside, which has had several issues with multi-language transformation and localization in different countries. It was confirmed to thirty-three manufacturers that the GPhone's launch will be postponed to 2008 Q4 or 2009 Q1 after the stability of Android is greater.
Although the postponement was confirmed, some industrial analysts commented that GPhone will be the greatest opponent for iPhone after its launch.
Wikipedia reports that in July 2005, Google acquired Android Inc., a small startup company based in Palo Alto, CA. Android's co-founders who went to work at Google included Andy Rubin (co-founder of Danger), Rich Miner (co-founder of Wildfire Communications, Inc), Nick Sears (once VP at T-Mobile), and Chris White (one of the first engineers at WebTV). At the time, little was known about the functions of Android Inc. other than they made software for mobile phones. This began rumors that Google was planning to enter the mobile phone market, although it was unclear what function it might perform in that market.
At Google, the team, led by Rubin, developed a Linux-based mobile device OS which they marketed to handset makers and carriers on the premise of providing a flexible, upgradeable system.[citation needed] It was reported that Google had already lined up a series of hardware component and software partners and signaled to carriers that it was open to various degrees of cooperation on their part.
More speculation that Google would be entering the mobile phone market came in December 2006. Reports from the BBC and The Wall Street Journal noted that Google wanted its search and applications on mobile phones, and it was working hard to deliver that. Print and online media outlets soon reported rumors that Google was developing a Google-branded handset. More speculation followed reporting that as Google was defining technical specifications, it was showing prototypes to cellphone manufacturers and network operators. As many as 30 prototype phones are reported to be operating "in the wild". Phoronix had reported that Google was looking to team up on the GPhone with OpenMoko, a project to create a smartphone platform using free software, including the Linux kernel. But Network World reported that Google’s phone was actually an open source software phone operating system, rather than a specific hardware device like the iPhone.
Sources - Wikinews
* Eric Zeman "Google's 'GPhone' Delayed Until 2009". InformationWeek, June 2, 2008
* Jonathan Richards "Gphone launch delayed until end of 2008". The Times, June 23, 2008
* Peter Smith "Gphone Delayed Until 2008". I.T. Vibe, June 24, 2008
* Desire Athow "Gphone Launch To Be Delayed Till End of 2008". ITProPortal.com, June 24, 2008
* "Google Should Have Made The gPhone". AndroidGuys, June 28, 2008
