What Google Phone may look like (Click to enlarge image)
It is reported that Google is in talks with Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, respectively India’s first- and third-largest mobile telephony operators, and state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam to offer the new Gphone. Rumors of a Google phone have been doing the rounds for the past few months.
Sources close to the development said a simultaneous launch across the US and Europe is expected, and announcements would be sent to media firms in India and other parts of the world. US regulatory approval, from the Federal Communications Commission, which must certify any wireless device sold in the U.S, is expected soon, and is the only hurdle that Google is waiting to cross, they added. Google plans to invest $7-8 billion for its global telephony foray.
This is what the Google Phone could potentially look like, according to reports.
Google Phone specifications
The specifications proposed by Google include 3G and Wi-Fi capability, for high-speed web-browsing, download and other capabilities. And integrated GPS could also appear - perhaps adding a new location-specific search dimension to the new Google mobile browser's capability. Besides regular mobile phone multimedia functionality - such as cameras and video - are part of the Google reference specification.
Google has been showing off prototypes of its Google Phone to mobile network operators, as its plans to introduce a Google-branded handset accelerate. It is currently drafting specifications for devices that can best display Google's applications. Google is also designing new software for the gPhone, including a sophisticated new mobile browser.
Google has already been working with a number of mobile phone operators and handset manufacturers to introduce Google search and other applications into mobile devices and onto network portals. It could expand this further by allowing mobile makers to carry Google software without a licensing fee. Google is believed to be looking for multiple handset manufacturers to work with on a Google defined specification, possibly even creating their own handset designs based around the Google reference. LG is one handset manufacturer that Google has been working with to integrate Google software into handsets and could be a potential hardware partner.
Google, as usual, refused to comment on rumors and speculation. "We don't comment on market rumor 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."
Sources close to the development said a simultaneous launch across the US and Europe is expected, and announcements would be sent to media firms in India and other parts of the world. US regulatory approval, from the Federal Communications Commission, which must certify any wireless device sold in the U.S, is expected soon, and is the only hurdle that Google is waiting to cross, they added. Google plans to invest $7-8 billion for its global telephony foray.
This is what the Google Phone could potentially look like, according to reports.
Google Phone specifications
The specifications proposed by Google include 3G and Wi-Fi capability, for high-speed web-browsing, download and other capabilities. And integrated GPS could also appear - perhaps adding a new location-specific search dimension to the new Google mobile browser's capability. Besides regular mobile phone multimedia functionality - such as cameras and video - are part of the Google reference specification.
Google has been showing off prototypes of its Google Phone to mobile network operators, as its plans to introduce a Google-branded handset accelerate. It is currently drafting specifications for devices that can best display Google's applications. Google is also designing new software for the gPhone, including a sophisticated new mobile browser.
Google has already been working with a number of mobile phone operators and handset manufacturers to introduce Google search and other applications into mobile devices and onto network portals. It could expand this further by allowing mobile makers to carry Google software without a licensing fee. Google is believed to be looking for multiple handset manufacturers to work with on a Google defined specification, possibly even creating their own handset designs based around the Google reference. LG is one handset manufacturer that Google has been working with to integrate Google software into handsets and could be a potential hardware partner.
Google, as usual, refused to comment on rumors and speculation. "We don't comment on market rumor 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."
