The Google Phone has been announced

Wow so the rumors were false about Verizon, I really thought they would have gone for having it over anyone else.
At least they picked 1 GSM & 1 CDMA carrier to make it fair for everyone.

Thanks for the article Charlyee.

 

That name does have a nice Ring to it. Good choice vs gPhone.

 

I'm glad to read that the operating system is based on Linux. Sure will give Microsoft some deserved competition.

 

Here is the MSNBC version Google developing cell phone software - Wireless World - MSNBC.com

 

Interesting. No Verizon? Can't wait to see more about this.

 

Here's an article from yesterday's NY Times on Andy Rubin, the guy who is heading Google phone software effort. It's written by John Markoff, one of the top technology journalists. The piece is pretty extensive and they obviously gave Markoff advance access to Rubin and his team. The fact that it was printed on Nov 4, is clearly not an accident. As the article that Charlyee posted says, Andy Rubin has been in this area for a while - he gets primary credit for inventing the Sidekick.

The graphic at the top of the article, with estimated numbers of smartphones shipped for 2007 and 2011 by OS, is also interesting.

I, Robot: The Man Behind the Google Phone

Excerpt:

And for completeness, here's Markoff's article on today's announcement:


Google Enters the Wireless World

“We are not building a GPhone; we are enabling 1,000 people to build a GPhone,” said Andy Rubin, Google’s director of mobile platforms, who led the effort to develop the software.



SW

 

Verizon, to me at least, seems to maintain a very closed network/infrastructure to maintain control so I was surprised to read that Google was even in any type of discussion with them. It has been Verizon arguing the most against the 700 mHz open structure proposition that Google was proposing for the spectrum.

 

I think this is a fresh face to the mobile world and a welcome one at that no matter who is involved with this.

 

I like the idea of having a free mobile OS based on Linux, but I don't like the idea of it being based on advertising. Linux is meant to be free, and ads kind of defeat that ($$$). I'm disapointed

Anyway isn't there allready a mobile OS based on Linux? There must be...

I don't see how this will benefit anyone, except the phone manufacturers (and of course Google). Phone mfg's will save a few $ on the cost of the mobile OS, but will they pass that cost savings on to consumers? Probably not. And in return, consumers will have their phone cluttered up with ads. I don't see why anyone would get excited about this?

 

Yes it will be nice having a phone with a different operating system vs MS.
The only thing I can think of with the ad's is they are going to offer the data at a big discount or free.
I know they have been looking to put ads on cellphones with the data and that's what this sounds like they are looking to do with this phone, the biggest thing is how to get people to accept advertising on their phones and so far surveys have been showing if the data is free or very discounted.

That can be the only "benefit" to the consumer that I can think of, to me I use limited data due to cost but I don't know if I would accept getting ads to get it for free, I see enough advertising.

 

I know that's what they were talking about before, but with this press release, there was no mention of free data for consumers, only a free OS for phones. It makes me wonder if the free data idea still held true. Free data in exchange for ads would be worth it. A "free" ad-suupported OS for phones, mmmm, probably not.

And where are they going to put the ads on the phones anyway? The screens are allready so small

 

I think they will leave that part up to the carriers and I think they just wanted to get the word out that the phone will be coming to build up anticipation for it like Apple did with the iPhone.

I have no idea how they are going to put ads on the tiny screens, other then making you scroll more to see the page, or have it flash the ad(s) as the page is loading.

I guess we will find out next year.

 

Google Offers US$10 Million to Android Mobile OS Developers

Google has announced a project to provide US$10 million for developers who work on its new mobile OS, Android. The Challenge is designed to support the developer community and spark innovation on the Android platform by awarding cash prizes ranging from $25,000 to $275,000 to developers whose applications are picked by a panel of judges.

"We've built some interesting applications for Android but the best applications are not here yet and that's because they're going to be written by developers," said Sergey Brin, Co-founder and President, Technology, Google. "We'd like to reward these developers and recognize them as much as possible."

"We believe that the Android platform offers developers a unique opportunity to create truly innovative mobile software," said Andy Rubin, Google's director of mobile platforms. "We're challenging developers to stretch their imaginations and skills to leverage the full capabilities of this new platform and to create something amazing."

Android was announced on November 5 by the Open Handset Alliance, a group of more than 30 mobile firms.

The $10 million total in the Android Developer Challenge will be distributed equally between the Android Developer Challenge I and II. Submissions for Challenge I will be accepted from January 2 through March 3, 2008, and the 50 most promising entries will be recognized by end of March with each receiving $25,000 awards to fund further development. These 50 entries will then be eligible for even greater recognition by applying by May 1, 2008 for ten awards worth $275,000 each and another ten worth $100,000 each.

Recognition for the top apps among those entries will be announced by end of May 2008. Challenge II will launch after the first handsets built on the platform become available in the second half of 2008.

A panel of technology and mobile experts selected from the Open Handset Alliance member organizations and the industry in general will judge all qualifying entries.

To see some of the screen shots of the current phone click this link:

Google Offers US$10 Million to Android Mobile OS Developers

 

Google Has Even Bigger Plans For Mobile Phones:

Google Has Even Bigger Plans for Mobile Phones
By KEVIN J. DELANEY and AMOL SHARMA
November 16, 2007; Page B1

Google Inc. made a big splash last week with its new software for cellphones. But that's far from the limit of the Internet giant's wireless ambitions -- which could include running its own mobile network.

The company is gearing up to make a serious run at buying wireless spectrum, a chunk of the airwaves that can be used to provide mobile phone and Internet services, in a Federal Communications Commission auction in January. Google is prepared to bid on its own without any partners, say people familiar with the matter. It is working out a plan to finance its bid, which could run $4.6 billion or higher, that would rely on its own cash and possibly some borrowed money.

A STRONG SIGNAL


Google's wireless initiatives could eventually lead to a national network.
• Developed Android software for mobile phones.
• Made Google applications -- including email, chat and mapping -- available on cellphones.
• Sells advertisements for certain Web sites accessed by cellphone.
• Enables users to do Web and business searches with cellphone browsers, by text message or with a call.
• Is testing an advanced wireless network at Google headquarters.
• Operates a free Wi-Fi network in Mountain View, Calif.
• Expected to bid for wireless spectrum in a January FCC auction.Google, meanwhile, already is running a test version of an advanced wireless network at its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters, gaining operating experience that could come in handy if it wins the spectrum and decides to run a full-scale national mobile carrier, according to people familiar with the matter.

The behind-the-scenes moves illustrate just how serious the Internet giant is about trying to reshape the wireless world. Its push could potentially expand the availability and decrease the cost of high-speed mobile Internet access to consumers and broaden the wireless applications they can use.

At the same time, Google's wireless projects could take it far from its core expertise, at a big potential cost in money and management attention. They could also antagonize telecom carriers, some of whom have relationships with the company, and other Google partners, who might view the wireless push as a competitive threat. It remains possible that last-minute developments could alter Google's strategy between now and a Dec. 3 FCC deadline for declaring an intent to bid.

A Google spokesman said in a statement that the company would reveal any plans to participate in the auction by then. "In the meantime, we are making all the necessary preparations to become an applicant to bid," he said. "Our goal is to make sure that American consumers have more choices in an open and competitive wireless world," the spokesman added.

The company has said it wants to make mobile networks more open, so that consumers can use any Internet service and application and move their handsets between carriers without onerous restrictions. That's one impetus behind the Android software for mobile phones that Google announced Nov. 5, alongside a group of industry partners including Taiwan's HTC Corp., a handset maker, and Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile, a wireless carrier.

Google also views open wireless networks as key to sidestep any telephone and cable company efforts to make it difficult for consumers to access Google services, or to charge Google to deliver the services to consumers over their Internet connections. Carriers such as Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC, say they guard their networks closely to provide high-quality phone and Internet service and protect consumers from security breaches and invasions of privacy.


Google Maps running on Android cellphone software
Behind the scenes, Google also is eyeing financial opportunities, as revenue for U.S. wireless carriers hit $95 billion last year, the research firm Yankee Group estimates. Google could reap subscriber fees if it controlled an operator, and experiment with models such as a one-time licensing fee for consumers to use its network and no monthly access charges. Company executives have said that cellular handsets or services could eventually be subsidized by revenue from advertising consumers view on their cellphones.

Google may square off at the auction against large U.S. wireless carriers such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless that are looking for more spectrum, which is necessary to expand their own broadband Internet offerings and power services such as mobile TV.

Some carriers have privately expressed skepticism about Google's ambitions, saying it is vastly underestimating the challenges of operating a network, providing customer service and gaining traction as a new entrant in a crowded wireless market. Still, there is a fear among carriers that "because it's Google, because of the power of their brand and because they understand networks really well, it might work," said Blair Levin, a telecom analyst with Stifel Nicolaus & Co. and former chief of staff at the FCC.

The FCC issues licenses to use portions of the airwaves for wireless networks and radio and television broadcasters. The frequencies on the block early next year are among the most valuable that have ever been auctioned. One reason is that they carry well over long distances, potentially requiring fewer transmission towers to cover large areas.

Google is focused mainly on bidding on what has been designated as the "C" block, a slice of the 700 megahertz spectrum. It is also considering other blocks of spectrum available as well, though they would provide only regional coverage or come with other limitations. Google has hired game-theory specialists to help plot its auction strategy, say people familiar with the matter.

Sean Maloney, an executive vice president at chip maker Intel Corp., argues that the frequencies on auction could hasten the spread of high-speed Internet access to rural areas and others who can't easily get it. "Seven-hundred megahertz is a national treasure," he says. The government is expected to turn over use of the spectrum to the winning bidders by early 2009.

Though it has made no firm public commitment about the coming auction, Chief Executive Eric Schmidt has said Google probably would bid. Last month, he told journalists the company was considering joining with partners on a bid, but that it "won't make that decision until the very last minute as more information comes along."

Several people familiar with the matter said that the company believes that it would lose goodwill in Washington, if it didn't bid, given that it won changes to the auction rules that will force the winner of one block of spectrum to open its network to any mobile device or software application. One of the people familiar with the matter said Google is "going for it" and expects to bid on its own despite interest by potential strategic partners in each investing $1 billion or more in a joint bid effort.

The complexity of the possible bidding scenarios and auction outcomes has led Google executives to believe they would benefit from the flexibility of bidding alone. They were also concerned about alienating allies by selecting some and not others as bid partners, say the people familiar with the matter.

In addition, Google discovered Wall Street was enthusiastic about the company's ability to raise any needed cash, lessening the pressure to bring in others. Google currently plans to consider whether to bring on partners after the outcome of the auction is known.

Meanwhile, back at its headquarters, Google is already operating an advanced high-speed wireless network under a test license from the FCC, according to people familiar with the matter. The company has erected transmission towers on its campus for the network. Prototype mobile handsets powered by the Android software are currently running on it.

Experience with the technology could aid the company in operating a full-fledged carrier, one of the options it's considering. Google is betting it could potentially build and operate a wireless network faster and cheaper than traditional operators.

In that event, the company could try new wireless technology approaches. Google this year invested in a closely held United Kingdom company called Ubiquisys Ltd. that makes a technology called femtocell, which allows mobile phones in poor-coverage areas to use home Internet connections to make calls and transfer data. Such technology could potentially be harnessed as part of any Google wireless infrastructure.

If Google is successful in the spectrum auction, other possibilities on the table include leasing spectrum to partners. The company has separately had discussions about potentially investing alongside other parties in Clearwire Corp., which is trying to build a nationwide high-speed wireless network, say people familiar with the matter. Such talks with Google aren't currently at an advanced stage, they say.

ABI Research senior analyst Nadine Manjaro believes it's more likely that Google would form a partnership with an existing wireless network operator than try to build one on its own. "They have no experience in running a network, and it's not something simple to do," she says. Ms. Manjaro estimates the cost of building a national network on the spectrum available at $3 billion or more.

--Don Clark contributed to this article.

Write to Kevin J. Delaney at kevin.delaney@wsj.com and Amol Sharma at amol.sharma@wsj.com

Link: Google Has Even Bigger Plans for Mobile Phones - WSJ.com