gPhone posts

Filed under: OS Updates, Linux, Google, Open Source, Mobile Minute

Google's gPhone is dead, long live Android

by Brad Linder Nov 5th 2007

Google is finally lifting the veil of secrecy from one of the company's worst kept secrets: Google has been working on a cellphone platform. In the early days of gPhone speculation, rumors were flying that Google was going to launch its answer to the iPhone: a piece of hardware running custom software. Now we know that Google has instead developed a software platform for mobile phones that allows phone makers and software developers to do more with cellphones. And of course, to make sure those phones connect easily to Google services like search, Gmail, Google Maps, and so on.

Google today is announcing Android, the mobile OS and the Open Handset Alliance. Google will be releasing the first version of the software development kit for Android on November 12.

Android is built on Linux and features a virtual machine designed for memory and resource optimization. Since the OS is built on an open source foundation, we could eventually see thousands of independent developers creating or porting third party applications to the mobile operating system. Think there are plenty of applications for your Windows Mobile, Palm, or Symbian phone? If Android catches on, we'd love to see developers port every single one of those apps, plus a few Linux goodies like OpenOffice.org or at least AbiWord.

In other words, Android is sort of the anti-iPhone. While Apple released an amazing new OS for a single handset, Android will be able to run on any number of phone models. And while Apple has yet to make an SDK available for third party iPhone development (although one is coming), Google will launch an Android SDK before a single phone even runs the OS.

Tags: android, gPhone, mobile-phone, open-handset-alliance

Filed under: Internet, VoIP

Skype mobile phone coming soon (but not to the US)

by Brad Linder Oct 18th 2007

Apple has the iPhone, Microsoft has Windows Mobile, and Google has, well, whatever the new gPhone operating system is going to be called. Computer software companies can't seem to get enough of the mobile phone market. Now it looks like Skype has plans to partner with 3 Mobile to create a Skype branded cellphone.

3 Mobile is a wireless carrier covering Europe, Asia, and Australia, so don't expect to get your hands on a Skype cellphone in the US anytime soon. But if the phone proves popular overseas, who knows what could happen in the US market.

The phone will reportedly work just like a regular cellphone -- until you press the big button that launches the Skype application. Then you'll be able to call any other Skype user for free, whether that person is using Skype on a computer or phone. Because the calls are being routed over the internet, there's no reason to charge you for anything but data minutes (it's not clear what kind of data plans will be offered with the phone).

Skype will charge its usual rates for SkypeOut calls if you're calling anyone who is not using the Skype service. Since SkypeOut international rates tend to be lower than the rates you'll get from 3 Mobile or most other telephone service providers, this sounds like a pretty good deal. But it raises an interesting question: if the Skype cellphone model proves successful the service will put itself out of business. If most of the people you call are Skype customers you'll be making free calls all the time and Skype won't be making any revenue aside from whatever service fee it collects from 3 Mobile.

Tags: 3-mobile, cellphone, gphone, iphone, skype, telephone, windows-mobile

Filed under: Internet, Google

Google phone will take on Microsoft, not Apple

by Brad Linder Oct 8th 2007

Rumors about a Google phone have been flying for months. And since they started around the time that Apple was releasing its game-changing iPhone, it should come as no surprise that we all started to get the idea that Google might get into the hardware game and release a gPhone handset featuring Google software.

But according to the New York Times, while Google has developed a few prototype handsets for internal testing, what the company is really working on is a mobile operating system. Or to put it another way, what the company is really working on is a way to serve up advertisements on your mobile device.

Google will offer up its OS to hardware manufacturers, so perhaps one day you'll be able to get a Treo running PalmOS, Windows Mobile, or a Google operating system. The OS will be Linux-based and will include Google applications including mail, directions, possibly a web browser, and probably some sort of mobile version of Google Docs & Spreadsheets.

Tags: cellphone, google-phone, gphone, mobile, OS, phone

Filed under: Business, Internet, Web services, Google, Search

Google phone in the final stages

by Chris Gilmer Sep 19th 2007

Rumors has it that the Google branded gPhone is on its way. Now when exactly is a different story.

Our brothers at Engadget report that sources at the DigiTimes have said that Google will definitely be launching a handset. The mobile OS is rumored to be Linux-based. The only issue is that hardware specs, production facility, and operating partners are still getting worked out.

As for the handset design, Google is supposedly leaning towards a 3G device instead of a full EDGE compatible cellphone, this all leading to a first quarter 2008 release.

We suppose we will wait for the initial gPhone announcement before deciding on whether to drop some coin on Google's device or the iPhone.

Tags: 3g, cell-phone, device, edge, google, google phone, GooglePhone, gphone, handheld, htc

Filed under: Audio, Business, Google, VoIP

More Google HTC phone rumors

by Chris Gilmer Aug 29th 2007

And the rumors keep rolling in on Google's phone development. This magical device that will be host to Google's powerful services like Gmail and Search while on the go. This time a person inside HTC has confirmed the development of the device.

The rumors specify that the Gphone will be shipping from Taiwan, and is scheduled to launch Q1 of 2008. The team at Google has been going over the current 20 HTC models on the market and finalizing its handset design. Gphone will have a specially built version of Google Maps, just as the iPhone does, with built in GPS compatibility. Previous reports stated that the device would not have GPS, and that it would support both 3G and EDGE platforms. Gmail and Calendar will be present, with Google Talk becoming part of the phone in a VoIP mode. As for the operating system on the Gphone, the insider said it would use Windows Mobile 6, however some think that a Linux OS would be more realistic. As for price, there have been buzzing's that the device would stay in the range of only $100. Will it be unlocked? We will have to wait and see, but chances of that are fairly slim.

Tags: calendar, gmail, google, gphone, gps, handheld, htc, linux, mobile, os, phone, search, windows mobile, WindowsMobile

Filed under: Business, Google, Search

Could the Google Phone really come to market in two weeks?

by Chris Gilmer Aug 24th 2007

Or is it all just a bunch of gossip that we have been hearing about for the past year? There have been endless amounts of rumors about the GPhone, but will it soon see the light of day in two weeks?

There has been so much said about the GPhone that it's hard to listen to yet another story on the topic. Is Google merely building some specialized software for mobile devices, or are they getting into full fledged handsets? An India publication has cited a few sources in the Google phone, and has said that it could be only two weeks away. Talks are believed to be underway in India with two of their largest networks, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Essar, with US regulatory approval going through soon.

Google has not commented on the GPhone rumors, and their plans to enter the market. All the pieces sure fit together, and it was even reported that a late 2007 launch could be in place. From the mobile Gmail and Maps applications, to YouTube on cellphones, and the iPhone email and mapping solutions.

[via searchengineland]

Tags: apple, google, google phone, GooglePhone, GPhone, iphone, phone, search

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