Google phone rumors shot down -- for the moment

We were afraid the fun couldn't last long, and indeed a Google bossman has come forward in an attempt to quell rumors of a Google phone. Richard Kimber, Google's South-East Asia managing director of sales and operations, says that Google is obviously investing in the software side of things, but that it has no interest in entertering the crowded handset market. "At this point in time, we are very focused on the software, not the phone." This echoes Vint Cerf's statments from earlier this month, who said "becoming an equipment manufacturer is pretty far from our business model." Of course, while both of these guys are confirming that mobile software, services and ads are in the works, neither one has come straight out and denied an actual device, or taken steps to contradict Isabel Aguilera's statements about a low-end phone in the works -- but it's pretty clear that these guys are at least implying we won't be seeing such a device for a while yet.

[john @ Mar 21st 2007 1:57PM]

you know someone is going to hack the iphone and put something like Linux on it and you will be able to run whatever you want

[Alex Padilla @ Mar 21st 2007 10:46AM]

Well, this would make sense, them not making a physical phone. Think about it, Google and Apple both said that they'll be working together on more projects, and I'm sure it involves something to do with the mobile market. Also, Google wants to take on Microsoft in the mobile market, so let them be with their software, we don't need another hardware option...well, I don't, at least.

[atarimaster @ Mar 21st 2007 10:46AM]

i still think google should get into the handset market

[Andrew @ Mar 21st 2007 11:22AM]

This is just a case of a distant exec thinking that he knows something that's going on at HQ!

[Mike on a Bike @ Mar 21st 2007 11:40AM]

HAS ANYONE CONSIDERED THAT MAYBE GOOGLE IS CREATING AN OPERATING SYSTEM FOR MOBILE PHONE MANUFACTURERS? THAT WAY GOOGLE GETS INTO THE MOBILE DEVICE MARKET W/O NEEDING TO MANUFACTURE THE DEVICE THEMSELVES. OR WHO KNOWS MAYBE THEY WILL PULL AN AUDIOVOX AND JUST BUY STUFF FROM HTC AND REBRAND IT AND INSTALL THEIR OS ON IT.

SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS! IM POSTING THIS FROM MY CRAPPY WINDOWS MOBILE PHONE WITH A F'ED UP KEYBOARD

[PEZ @ Mar 21st 2007 12:49PM]

OK, so they are making mobilephone software - good enough. Thanks Bong Frong for clearing that up for us.

[yao @ Mar 21st 2007 1:21PM]

how "smart" is a smart phone that doesn't run 3rd party apps? i guess one could argue either way, but personally, i just think it's dumb.

[Bud Caddell @ Mar 21st 2007 1:40PM]

Kudos to you Google! You read my blog AND you took my advice. This time it was for free, next time these pearls of wisdom are gonna cost you!

http://www.passion2publish.com/2007/03/google_phone_ru.html

[Jordan @ Mar 21st 2007 1:40PM]

I personally don't think they will make their own hardware as some stated above. It makes more sense if they would continue developing their own software and have a manufacturer build their hardware for them.

[Anthony @ Mar 21st 2007 2:54PM]

goOSe - Google Operating System Environment
http://code.google.com/p/projectgoose/

ScreenSHOT
http://projectgoose.googlecode.com/files/Screenshot.png

[James J @ Mar 21st 2007 3:38PM]

If that quote was completely correct then...

Because he said "The Phone" he actually knows there is a phone in the works.

[James @ Mar 21st 2007 10:51PM]

If Google are as good at designing their phones as their site, were in for trouble. You can already get the iPhone off those guys on myspace
-
http://www.WindowsVistaUserGuide.com

[mfaddas @ Mar 21st 2007 11:37PM]

Imagine yourself as a Googler and you will know what is the Google Phone rumors are all about:

"At this point in time, we are very focused on the software, not the phone."
+
The target: Kill Microsoft
+
Invade the life of people via focusing on technology product used by most of the people most of the time
+
Improve things that are important but not done correctly
+
Google OS in the future

=

Google is not making a phone, it is making an operating system for mobile phones that will beat Windows Mobile 6 and the others.

[James @ Mar 22nd 2007 12:41PM]

If Google are as good at designing their phones as their site, were in for trouble. You can already get the iPhone off those guys on myspace
-
http://www.WindowsVistaUserGuide.com

[GalaXy @ Mar 29th 2007 11:21PM]

I am very saddened by this, although the idea of a non-Windows operating system makes me happy.

Personally, I have a Palm Treo 650. I purchased it as the iPaq came out. The main reason for not going with the iPaq (aside from the massive size) was the OS. I don't mind Windows for my PC, mainly because it is what I am used to, but Windows Mobile? No thanks. I've found Palm to have less glitches and the ones they do are easily fixable. But that is just my opinion.