Google's mobile plans to be unveiled soon

For now it's not much more than a plan to announce a plan within the next few weeks, but since it involves Google and cellphone networks, we'll take it. The Wall Street Journal has the news that Google will announce its mobile offerings within the next two weeks, which could take the form of hardware, software packages, or -- most likely -- an open platform for phones that third party developers can build on. Interaction is the key word here: Google's platform won't involve locking down features, rather, it'll open them up so that they work together. How exactly the company will execute this plan will be revealed within the immediate future: although with most phone manufacturers already subcontracting development of their phone's software platforms, it doesn't sound like it should be too difficult a job to muscle in.

[Thanks, Harry; via MarketWatch. Image credit]

[Hollywood Ron @ Oct 30th 2007 8:58AM]

Good for Google. Open source is fun.

[ethana2 @ Oct 30th 2007 2:44PM]

Absolutely.

Happy Ubuntu user :)

[Ed @ Oct 30th 2007 9:28AM]

Open platform doesn't necessarily mean open source.
They're probably going to make it easy to sync all of your Gdata to your phone.
Looks like they've already gotten started by adding IMAP support to GMail.

[ethana2 @ Oct 30th 2007 2:09PM]

Dude, it's google. Basically whenever they write code nowadays, they open it up. That's why they're frigging awesome.

It'll be based on Linux, that much we know.

[wrabbit @ Oct 30th 2007 9:56AM]

What happened with the classic Google phone photo you guys usually put? I'm really not digging that new vision of the gPhone (trademarked) you put up there, it's kinda big.

[JuggleNuts @ Oct 30th 2007 10:22AM]

*Wishes he had invented Google ... or at least invested in them way back*

[ethana2 @ Oct 30th 2007 2:47PM]

Don't we all?

But it's not a complete loss. We can look at google and say 'What did they do right?' Then start your own business and do that.

I submit to you that what they did right was not being evil. Take that, and go start, like, an ISP or something. You'll make billions. ...and yes, I'm completely serious.

[Randomness @ Oct 30th 2007 10:39AM]

Well, we know that they won't be doing what we all want them to do, namely:
-launch an open GPhone on their new national 700mhz spectrum
-charge cheap rates for amazing data and phone service
-offer free/reduced ad-supported phone and data service(somehow)
-mobile tv
-open the network to all phones and applications
-run it all on that fiber they've been buying
-launch mobile payment service that kick's paypal's ass
-launch ebay competitor

(okay, those last two just kinda krept in there...) But isn't this what we're all thinking/wishing for!?!

[newgalactic @ Oct 30th 2007 1:26PM]

I have that phone on my office desk. It's a Lucent 6408D+.

I'm really looking forward to Google's announcement. I'm a big fan of their stuff, big user of Gmail, Maps, YouTube, and Calender. Haven't gotten into Google Finance or Docs, yet.

[Julia @ Oct 30th 2007 8:18PM]

One step closer to world domination.

[kumatron @ Nov 1st 2007 4:38AM]

Google buys Microsoft and becomes: Google. [3:01]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj8ZadKgdC0