WSJ does a long story on Google’s mobile plans..what it does it collects all of Google’s mobile moves (that we have covered over the last two years), and makes it into one big plan to dominate the world…I have my doubts on that, though. Anyway, from the story, “Google has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the cellphone project…It has developed prototype handsets, made overtures to operators such as T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, and talked over technical specifications with phone manufacturers. It hopes multiple manufacturers will make devices based on its specs and multiple carriers will offer them.” Duh…yes, for sure. And the tension between Google and operators, and them being cagey about using Google’s search: yep, we and others covered it in the past too.
What it does say is the long-rumored Google phones are still in the planning stages, and wouldn’t be available to consumers until next year at the earliest. Also, it is drafting specifications for phones that can display all of Google’s mobile applications at their best, and it is developing new software to run on them. The company is conducting much of the development work at a facility in Boston, and is working on a sophisticated new browser for cellphones. Also, Google doesn’t plan to charge a licensing fee to hardware makers or operators..the company has suggested the phones could carry the Google brand alongside the brand of the operator, or they could be distributed without the Google name. The one is has had closest talks with is T-Mobile USA, the story says.
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