Google getting more serious about the Gphone?

Rumors about about a possible Google phone have run so hot and cold recently that it's hard to keep up, but AppleInsider is reporting that the big G is making a big push in developing their own handset. AI says that investment guidance firm Anian has issued a report quoting a development budget in the "hundreds of millions" of dollars and that HTC is being tapped to build a Linux-based Gphone to be launched on T-Mobile in the US in early 2008, with Orange getting the exclusive in France and other countries. Anian also says Google has been in talks with Verizon and AT&T, and that Verizon has already shot the big G down -- much like it did with Apple and the iPhone. As always, rumors are just rumors, so we'll wait and see, but it's hard to ignore the amount of buzz that the Gphone's been getting.

[David @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:19AM]

WHY! Stupid verzion...if they didnt have the best network i would leave them in a heartbeat

[Homer J @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:21AM]

Amen

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:29AM]

It's so silly too... I can just see the Verizon executives sitting around-

"Hmm, how about we don't offer really good phones that people will pay a premium for?"

"Yeah, our excellent network should be more than enough to convince everyone to join us!"

It took them more than a year to offer up a RAZR after all the other carriers had it...doesn't take long for Motorola to work out a CDMA version. If only Verizon offered up more slick phones to go with the awesome service...sigh..

[Martin @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:16AM]

"...if they didn't have the best network..."

*Points at david* Hahahaha *wipes tear away* Thanks

[Al @ Aug 3rd 2007 5:38AM]

actually in the case of the Moto Razr Sprint was the last major carrier to get it. Actually they got around the same time the Slvr cdma and the Krzr came out.

[Aaron @ Aug 3rd 2007 6:44AM]

Best...network? I wish I had your Verizon... 'Cause mine fucking blows.

[Steven Loloi @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:20AM]

You'd think that Verizon would have learned its lesson after the iPhone

[David @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:21AM]

In my anger i made some typos. I ment Verizon, not Verzion

[kyle allen @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:39AM]

don't worry.. its ok

[G-Man @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:31AM]

Verizon will always remain behind the ball in the "fun" department. They always have been.

[Kyle Simmons @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:34AM]

I bet they were sitting around going, "darn, we passed up the opportunity of a lifetime with the iPhone, we are stupid... look what it did to AT&T's profit and market share.. frick.." then someone knocked on the door and was like, "google is thinking about making a phone, should we consider it?" And they said, "that's the stupidest idea I've ever heard, lets go play some golf"

[billyboy @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:40AM]

"As always, rumors are just rumors, so we'll wait and see, but it's hard to ignore the amount of buzz that the Gphone's been getting."

Well, it's hard to ignore when you guys just republish these baseless rumors.

[trancer @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:46AM]

you know you like it. its makes your mouth water just thinking of the Anti-Christ of phones.

do you really expect engadget to expose their "sources"?

[David @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:49AM]

This could be what I thought the iPhone was: a voip phone where you use an email account.

...anyway, TMobile has already started this HotSpot calling thing via WiFi, and I hope this phone will do to Google's stock what it did to Apple's!!

[Warhorse @ Aug 3rd 2007 9:44AM]

I'd rather th G-Phone went to T-Mobile USA instead of Verizon or AT&T. You'd think with the Hot Spots it would be a good team up.

[jbcaro @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:50AM]

Verizon also likes to take the manufacturers software and muck it up to their own version. Maybe Google said 'I don't think so'.

[Johan S @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:51AM]

Let it please have a display that is more than 800 pixels wide.

[Evan @ Aug 3rd 2007 1:06AM]

Didn't I just read something recently about Google and Sprint partying up for part of the spectrum auction coming up. I'm going to start searching, if anyone know what I am talking about let me know. God knows Sprint really *needs" something like this, they have become so uncool recently. By recently I mean as soon as there were large competitors other than Verizon.

[EraserZero @ Aug 3rd 2007 1:24AM]

Well to everyone who gives there 2 cents about why Verizon didnt take Google up on this offer or even the iPhone. Well the keep in mind it all comes down to "price". If the manufacturer isnt willing to meet certain requirements of the Service Provider then they wont buy it. Quantity also means price! Another thing is the iPhone has no GPS, no OTA music downloads, No 3rd party support, high price for data on a non 3G network...silly EDGE, just to name a few...why would Verizon want to buy this thing with none of the above supported?? I think the iPhone is a great device, but thats it its just a "device"... I can see this probably was some of the clauses behind the decision with "big G" there is something that made them say NO with good reason. Also just a side note, it took Verizon years to get the Razr because if anyone remembers when the v3 came out it had tons of bugs...Verizon is very frugal nowadays about what they buy because if it doesnt work right they wont buy it. Of course every company has phone issues---thats technology verbatim. I have worked in the wireless industry for 8 years and for almost all the carriers so ive seen way to much over time.

[Jordan @ Aug 5th 2007 3:48AM]

"high price for data on a non 3G network"

You mean $20 per month for unlimited EDGE with 200 free texts is sillier than $45 - $49 a month for unlimited data on Verizon's network, which is still mainly 1xRTT in most rural areas? That's silly? Even though EDGE whoops 1xRTT? Dumb.

[EraserZero @ Aug 6th 2007 6:40PM]

Well when you consider how old the Edge technology is and how it isnt much of a speed improvement over 1X...broadband on the EVDO network is alot faster and is available in more areas than people realize. Its kinda like my home internet...Sure i could pay $20 or so a month for DSL or low grade cable and deal with the slow loading times or get the premium 20 megs for for $50. Im about speed and reliability and for alot of people that make use of the devices like Palm and WM5 and even the iPhone. These benefit from the faster speed.

You get what you pay for.

[Singh @ Aug 3rd 2007 1:36AM]

Is it because Google sees that Apple is making so much profit from it's iPhone like this news http://www.gadget9.com/2007/07/05/apple-sold-700000-iphone-made-200m/

[rico @ Aug 3rd 2007 1:44AM]

I don't know much about what google is up to, but I can tell you they have an office in the Cambridge incubator just outside of Boston and they are hiring engineers for only for Mobile development. Anyone else from Boston know more about this?

[Abhishek @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:14AM]

i am really hoping they could make it free and drive ad based revenues.

http://abhishek.tiwari.com/2007/08/03/first-free-mobile-service-now-free-phones/

[Dragod @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:22AM]

Gphone = GangsterPhone
Just like Gmail = GangsterMail.

[Tim Dorr @ Aug 3rd 2007 3:59AM]

I dunno, I like my iPhone a *lot*. The gPhone would have quite an uphill battle to be anywhere near as good. They've gotta build an OS that can match.

[TMLC @ Aug 3rd 2007 5:06AM]

I'm not so sure. Why build an OS? they can use Symbian or Windows Mobile...
I have the N95 because of the many features and the flexible OS. Finally I only have one phone for Skype, SIP and GSM (For Skype, I needed to install an application).
The GPS isn't too bad either. Especially after they fixed the firmware problems.

[equalizer @ Oct 19th 2007 1:44AM]

Use WM? You gotta be kidding. It's a pile of doo...and I own an 8525. Can't blame MS for everything...often the carriers screw up the distro.

[Gulic @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:40AM]

Any thoughts on why google is building a phone? I would think that a big concern for google in terms of phones is that they could become one of the primary ways in which people connect to the internet (especially in the developing world). Wouldn't the best approach then be to buddy up with as many handset makers as possible to get some set of google apps bundled onto their phones, rather than competing with them directly? I thought Eric Schmidt was on the board of apple, who I imagine isn't very pleased about a gphone competitor...

[warhorse @ Aug 3rd 2007 9:50AM]

Whether Apple is pleased or not, when this hits the market lets hope it drives competition enough to urge both phone manufacturers to load these devices with the app’s and tools we would love to see, not what they would love us to use.

[iPhoneResidentObssesive @ Aug 3rd 2007 9:34AM]

o verizon, how do i hate you

let me count the ways!

cdma

no gsm

crappy UI

Crappy phones

lame customer service

t-mobile and at&t r still better

[ksat @ Aug 3rd 2007 11:28AM]

I think this is all still speculation...Google is gearing up to spend BILLIONS on the 700-Mhz spectrum next year. Why wouldn't they buy that and create their own Wireless Enterprise and flip the bird at all the other national carriers simply to offer ad-subsidized cellphone access and broadband?

Would you pay less for an ad-supported phone that has some kool features and probably decent reception no matter where you are? I would definitely consider it!

[Scott @ Aug 3rd 2007 11:38AM]

Either Verizon has their head up their asses or they better be working on something like the LG Shine/Prada (they do seem to love LG.) I need to send them a nasty letter.

I won't switch to AT&T's crappy service for the iPhone, but I'd be more tempted for a gPhone.

[Greg Paradee @ Aug 3rd 2007 12:00PM]

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9028763

[rp @ Aug 3rd 2007 2:31PM]

This is why I switched from AT&T Wireless (Cingular, now AT&T again), is T-Mobile better? Verizon certainly is. I want an iPhone at some point but will I switch back... probably not. See below!

"Please enter your prepaid wireless number"
beep beep boop
"Please enter the last 4 digits of your SSN for verification purposes"
beep boop beep
"Please enter your CC#"
beep boop beep boop beep
"Please hold while we connect you to a service representative"
.... on hold for 20 minutes
"Hi, I'm Asshat, can I get your wireless #?"
"Yeah, it's 555-555-5555"
"Ok... Can I get the last 4 digits of your SSN?"
"5555"
"Hmm.. I can't find you in the system... Can you hold?"
"Not really"
... on hold for 30 minutes
"Sir, I can't seem to find you in the system, but it looks like you're trying to add minutes is that correct?"
"Yes"
"Can you hold, I need to get a supervisor to authorize your minutes"
... on hold for 30 minutes
"Hi, I'm the supervisor, I can't authorize you because you haven't taken the authorization test"
"How can I take it so I don't have to do this every time I call? I keep calling, you guys say I need to take the test, but then you don't give me a way to verify anything."
"Well, that's pretty complicated. I can't verify any of the information you've given me."
"So what you're saying is that I can't use your service"
"Well, we could call the bank to authorize you."
"I need minutes now, that's why I called. Actually, I needed them an hour ago."
"Well, we could call the bank to verify."
"OK, do that please."
"Can you give us the phone number?"
"Umm, it's Chase."
"What's that?"
"A huge bank. Chase bank. Can't you find the number? You're a phone network. You know... hold on, jesus.... Here's the number. 800-555-5555."
"Please hold."
... 20 minutes later
"Sir, we couldn't get through to anyone because the bank is closed. They closed at 6."
"Yeah, but I called at 4:30. If you hadn't put me on hold for over an hour before this you could've gotten it worked out."
"We will authorize your transaction tomorrow when the bank opens, but since you haven't taken the verification test we can't..."
"No thanks, fuck you, I'm done with you guys."
"Thanks for calling Cingu..."

[Iam9376 @ Aug 5th 2007 1:18AM]

Cingular Prepaid services are outsourced to another company, which we know has had problems. but guess what, everyone else is. Cingular's service is the best of all the carriers hand's down. I wish i wasnt stuck with verizon :(

[M @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:22PM]

This isn't like the iPhone-- Engadget seems to have missed the most interesting statement in the Apple Insider report: "Verizon... objected to splitting ad revenue with the potential partner." "Ad revenue"? Unless all the calls are free, I don't see many people interested in ads on their phone. Remember too that they'd be targeted ads, linked to browsing history, as well as an account with your name and likely a social security number, and maybe a credit card. A bit too invasive for me at any price, I think.

[Mcclane @ Aug 7th 2007 2:18PM]

Man I hope that Google makes a phone it would be AWSOME

[nakamichijr @ Aug 12th 2007 5:54AM]

Google should spend that money on a trampoline commuting system.

[Craysh @ Aug 15th 2007 3:23PM]

Because, if they get that spectrum, they won't need to build their own infrastructure or even go through their own carrier.
They could create a non-traditional VoIP network using the 700Mhz network that would provide voice and data both through a phone and through laptops with PCMCIA adapters.

[Mike @ Aug 31st 2007 2:18PM]

This has to be a done deal for Google. This would double their stock, which before this would be hard to believe.

And good for them. Thank god some one is taking on Apple. When I heard the iphone was exclusively with the world's shittiest customer service company, AT&T, I hated Steve Jobs even more. Which again was hard to believe.

The guy produces great products, but they are way over priced for the technology and he continues to jerk people around as to when his shit will be compatible with the rest of the world. And when the MF finally does put out compatible software the shit never works anyway.

I hope he chokes on the gphone. And I hope this icar idea with volkswagon bankrupts the bastard again. I just wish Mark Cuban would get off his ass and take Steve behind the wood shed the same way Bill Gates did. Thank god for that.

[Gaines @ Aug 31st 2007 8:04PM]

I'm psyched. Google does such a great job on their products and HTC makes some awesome phones...the two together will rock!


http://www.GoogleMobilePhone.net

[sfod223 @ Sep 5th 2007 8:55AM]

With the largest network available in the Us, I don't understand why Verizon would deny such a device.

[Bob @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:52AM]

Google will make the larger carriers eat their words. I can't wait to see what Google comes up with. They make crazy money against great odds.

I'm following the Google Phone story and rumors as they unfold at www.ilovegphone.com

[Exchange3D @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:04PM]

sure, Google wants to get into every possible market. Is Yahoo going to respond to this? IMHO, given the number of users that use Yahoo's communication tools (messenger and mail), having a phone that would have all those Yahoo services well integrated would make more sense then a gPhone.

[AJ @ Oct 29th 2007 12:24PM]

T-Mobile says they have the contract with Google for the new gPhone, it will be out come spring of 08