Google getting cozy with Verizon and Sprint for the Gphone?

The Gphone rumors have been heating up lately, and things seems like they're about to come to a boil. The Wall Street Journal, not generally known for wild rumor-mongering, is reporting that Google is in "advanced talks" with Verizon and Sprint and has made "significant progress" with T-Mobile, with an announcement of some kind due within two weeks. The news sent Google stock past $700 today, although it's still not clear if Google is simply developing its own software or going all out and doing an entire handset. Either way, it looks like Google's getting ready to make a move sometime soon, and with the amount of chatter we're hearing, it's going to be a big one.

[FinancialRetard @ Oct 31st 2007 12:54PM]

I remember when Google had their IPO and the stock went over $100. I though "Whoah! All those people are gonna lose their ass when the stock drops to $9."
This is why I am working my ass to the bone in a cube, and the dudes downtown are buying 3 million dollar apartments and piles of cocaine.

[Paul @ Oct 31st 2007 1:38PM]

They're not going with their own software, if they're considering going with Verizon. Since Verizon is known for raping their phone's software.

[Darkest Daze @ Oct 31st 2007 4:55PM]

@Paul
I didn't realize this till I was at the Verizon store a couple weeks ago, but it seems almost all their new phones have 2 UI's now. The horrid Verizon one and the one from the manufacturer that is actually nice.

[Augustos Morales @ Oct 31st 2007 6:10PM]

@JESSE S - They DONT FUCK WITH HIGH END???? WTF YOU BEEN HIDING???? YOU FUCKING ASS CLOWN - WTF DO YOU CALL CRIPPLING THE GPS ON THE BLACKBERRY 8830???? AN OPTION...??????

[Darkest Daze @ Oct 31st 2007 6:36PM]

Caps-lock......press it.

[Brian @ Oct 31st 2007 1:00PM]

FinancialRetard, I feel your pain.

Back to the topic at hand, I'm excited that all the Google goodness will be going CDMA / EVDO instead of GSM / HSDPA.

Living in Kansas City, CDMA is the best choice for cell users who actually use data.

Bring it on!

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 2:02PM]

Yeah, CDMA is so superior to GSM it isn't even funny. GSM is just older, that's why it was adopted more.

Look at the really technologically advanced countries, like Korea (and Japan?), they use CDMA. But they also have R-UIM cards. Bastards.

[BigD @ Oct 31st 2007 5:37PM]

Go with Sprint. Integrate WiMax...this would be a googlephone.

[Chris @ Oct 31st 2007 1:02PM]

I'd think it would have to be software, since Sprint and Verizon are CDMA and T-Mobile is GSM.

[Warren @ Oct 31st 2007 1:04PM]

I agree Chris...I dont think Google is ready to try its hand at hardware....they are software kings and they know it. Nothing would kill this faster than an UGLY handset.

[FK @ Oct 31st 2007 1:13PM]

I dunno Warren. A lot of people gave Apple shit for going into the portable MP3 player space, them not being a "consumer devices" company but a "computer" company. We all know how that turned out. I say let them try and see what happens. Not at all related, but Google has designed things like server appliances in the past. This is not their first foray into hardware.

[Warren @ Oct 31st 2007 1:28PM]

True...They did give Apple shit with the iPod and iPhone - but at least Apple had a lot of experience with mass producing hardware before they did it. Google has limited experience with hardware - Honestly - I hope Google pulls it off - I have an iPhone and I love it - but competition is always a good thing for the consumer. :D

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 2:03PM]

The iPhone is only useful to people who just need a phone, and iPods sound like crap out of the headphone jack.

[brad @ Oct 31st 2007 1:17PM]

DONT SCREW ME NOW VERIZON


typed in all caps for hope that it will actually be worth something

[JuggleNuts @ Oct 31st 2007 1:17PM]

@Warren & Chris:

Agreed on both counts ... plus, a handset gets you exactly that, A handset. Software allows the Google machine to spread into a *much* greater population of phones.

I am excited :)

[Maestro @ Oct 31st 2007 1:18PM]

I wonder if at some point in the past when Apple was looking for partners for the iPhone, VZW and others knew that Google would be coming down the pipeline. This may have made them less likely to "give up the farm" for the iPhone (and ultimately a teeny tiny market share).

[Jonny @ Oct 31st 2007 1:24PM]

I'm stuck in a Verizon contract and I would totally love something like this. Unfortunately Verizion likes to stick their proprietary VCAST crap on everything.

Only thing I would love is ITUNES support but we know that's not going to happen. Guess I'll still have my phone + ipod...

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 2:04PM]

Why? iTunes is a pile of crap, and so is DRM.

And learn up about how Verizon messes with phones. The point being, they DON'T mess with the high end phones, like what this would be.

[Goldaar @ Oct 31st 2007 2:20PM]

You do realize they mess with all the phones in their lineup. Even the high end Blackberry World Edition comes with the GPS disabled. Don't try and give us that stuff about Verizon not messing with their high end phones. They cripple all their phones and nickel and dime you for the basic features included with the phone!

[Warren @ Oct 31st 2007 2:54PM]

Yes. VZW messes with ALL the phones they carry. Thats probably a big reason why they passed on the iPhone - they couldnt F with it.

[Dorf @ Oct 31st 2007 4:48PM]

They messed with the new WM6 I760. They removed Windows Live IM and Terminal Services.

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 6:33PM]

What did they do to the i760? What about the 6800? The PN-820? The Moto Q's? The Treo's?

[getz76 @ Oct 31st 2007 1:29PM]

I would love to see them do firmware replacements for a bunch of phones. Now THAT would be worth something!

[timatl @ Oct 31st 2007 1:49PM]

please deliver on this because apple decided to go exclusive with the AT&T. i love my t-mo and I don't want to unlock the thing to work with my carrier. i really hope google deliver and have a open platform. the iphone is nice but apple/AT&T just give it a bad name to me. Limiting the 3rd part software, limiting a family to purchasing a maximum of two and limiting the customer to crappy AT&T. We need you google.

[Brian @ Oct 31st 2007 3:37PM]

Hate to the bringer of bad news, but you won't be able to use this on T-Mobile's network. T-Mobile is GSM, while Sprint and Verizon are CDMA.

CDMA phones don't unlock the same way as GSM, CDMA phones don't have simcards. The programming is stored in the phone, and it is locked by the network.

[palehorse @ Oct 31st 2007 3:48PM]

wrong.. The article itself mentions Goog's talks with T-mobile as well.

How can you say that anyone can or cannot use this when we don't even know wtf "this" is?!

I too hope Google does something with T-mobile... I was going to buy a new Shadow, but now I might wait for this announcement before pulling the trigger.

[timatl @ Oct 31st 2007 4:01PM]

brian, do you know you talking about? Are you saying this is going to be for CDMA only?

[newgalactic @ Oct 31st 2007 1:51PM]

Software/cripples hardware is a huge issue with phones, but the biggest issue for me is data and voice cost. How's Google going to make things cheaper for data/voice. Right now the cheapest plan for me is still AT&T's plan for the iPhone. Unlimited data and a 700 min family voice for $110 per month. Even T-mobile can't hit that without losing some major features.

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 2:07PM]

900 minutes and "unlimited" (they can cap you at 5gigs, but they don't always, it isn't automatic) data is $100 before taxes at Verizon. Sprint is incredibly cheap, especially Sero.

[billy bob thorton @ Oct 31st 2007 2:31PM]

um, I pay $70/month for 1,000 minutes, 2 lines, 10 my faves numbers, and unlimited data on T-mobile, which in turn gives me push email on my E61, and great customer support.

[Flit @ Oct 31st 2007 3:42PM]

Billybob: $70 for 2 lines unlimited minutes and 10 my faves? Wow, you got a good deal. Last week I checked it was $60 for 2 lines, no txt, no data, and 700 minutes, no MyFaves.

[Flit @ Oct 31st 2007 3:43PM]

Billybob: $70 for 2 lines unlimited minutes and 10 my faves? Wow, you got a good deal. Last week I checked it was $60 for 2 lines, no txt, no data, and 700 minutes, no MyFaves.

[doyouflip @ Oct 31st 2007 1:52PM]

My purely unsubstantiated guess is that it'll be a mix of web services and installable mini apps that run on a variety of OS's including Symbian, WM, OS X (iPhone flavor), etc. Their recent move to IMAP would align with this so people could read their email offline. Perhaps other things like calendar events and such would sync through the service and be stored on the local apps.

I'm no expert in this stuff so don't come at me like I'm lying or deceiving. I could very well just be completely wrong.

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 2:09PM]

I doubt they would support other OS apps. But I don't think they'd make the development platform restrictive, so it would probably be easy for people to develop apps for them.

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 2:11PM]

What I would love to see on the Gphone, is, EV-DO Rev. A, Verizon, 800x480 screen (with good contrast, brightness, colors, etc. Resolution means nothing if the screen looks like crap), a REAL keyboard (preferably with a changeable combination, I know I would like to use Dvorak and QWERTY on my portable device), digital audio output, and an option hard drive. Also, make it powerful.

[Randomness @ Oct 31st 2007 2:23PM]

Correction: "gPhone.beta"

:)

[Fred @ Oct 31st 2007 2:25PM]

If Google had to choose between Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, I hope T-Mobile is chosen.

Even if CDMA is superior, GSM is used in most places, meaning CDMA phones turn into bricks when you travel, unless they are dual mode like one of the BlackBerry phones.

[Kevin @ Oct 31st 2007 10:14PM]

Most people in the US don't travel outside of the US that often ;)

[Shahryar @ Oct 31st 2007 2:44PM]

I hope something happens w/ the Gphone for Sprint. I have a Tmobile phone as my main phone and Sprint as my secondary because I have an old employee plan that is still yet to expire. So I like keeping my main phone something simpler (right now a Nokia 6170 soon to be a N76) and keep my secondary phone as the more complex one (right now, a PPC-6700). The iPhone would be perfect if it was available for Sprint but alas its not, GSM only... Cingular only. My PPC6700 is getting on my nerves now and I need to replace it. I need to figure out with what, but I don't we'll see the gphone in the immediate future so I guess I will have to get something else for now.

[Neeko @ Oct 31st 2007 2:44PM]

@FRED

iAM sorry but i live in Westchester Ny and work in the city and ive traveled to boston down to Miami over to Cali and Vegas and ive never been in an area that i didnt get cell coverage and i have Sprint. I am sure Verizon has the same coverage. So unless you live in WESTBUMBLEFUK on a farm iam sure u get CDMA service. Now understand all the large markets HAVE coverage for CDMA which is probably the market that these companies shoot for.

I dont know one person who has ATT, othen then the snooty people at my job that have an iphone i dont know anyone that has ATT and only a couple that have Tmobile which they hate.

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 6:37PM]

Sprint customers can roam on the VZW network.

[yao @ Oct 31st 2007 8:19PM]

um... i'm pretty sure fred meant if you travel to other countries (like many people do these days) a CDMA phone turns into a brick. whereas with a GSM phone, you can still use phones that support the local frequency since most countries (europe and asia) use GSM.

[john @ Oct 31st 2007 3:30PM]

I hope they don't do a physical device. for ome i think it'd be a mistake for google - they're a software/services company, and they should play to their strength. for two, i don't think the market really needs another device vendor. what they need is a common service suite.

1) remove the burdon of voice mail from each vendor, and just do voice messages stored in a gmail message attachment. then put mobile gmail into this gphone app suite.

2) same thing, but for sms txt messaging - replace it with google talk.

3) the common app suite then integrates ads (small intro voice ad if you call for your voice mail?), and the carriers reduce rate costs in exchange for part of the ad revenue.

4) oh, and google maps application, with location detection and similar features, in the suite.

5) deploy for symbian, nokia linux (maemo), motorola linux, midlet java, and maybe even for desktop java (windows, linux, and mac laptops with pc card or usb mobile devices)

[Brian @ Oct 31st 2007 3:42PM]

Google is an ADVERTISEMENT COMPANY. I wonder how they're going to sell ads on my phone.

[SugarDaddy @ Oct 31st 2007 3:49PM]

"The Wall Street Journal, not generally known for wild rumor-mongering"

Uhh... did you forget that they've been purchased by NewsCorp (Rupert Murdoch)? All credibility the WSJ ever had is out the window. So while this may be legit, you should never ever consider the WSJ safe from rumor-mongering.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 31st 2007 4:06PM]

Thank god I didn't quit sprint.

[Robert Johnston @ Oct 31st 2007 4:33PM]

Let's go over things here.

GSM Vs. CDMA.

CDMA is great for carriers. The phones are locked to them (The network to use is hard-coded in the firmware) and they can oversubscribe available bandwidth massively.

GSM, however, is better for consumers. If you want to change networks, you pop out the SIM card for your old network and pop in a new SIM for the new network. Travel outside the US at all? You NEED GSM (As the US + subsidiaries are the ONLY countries that use it). Want guaranteed call quality? GSM is the answer. Each cell tower has enough bandwidth allocated for it's available channels, as the number of available channels is fixed by available bandwidth, rather than variable by demand like CDMA is.

GSM has it's data seperate from the voice network (Well, apart from SMS), and uses (In order of slowness) GPRS (Slowest), EDGE or UMTS (Fastest) (Depending on coverage for that area). This means lots of people downloading masses of data doesn't affect calling quality at all.

GSM has industry adoption the world over, whereas CDMA only has it's niche in the US/Canada. The only people who come forth in support of CDMA are people who are (or were formerly) employees of Qualcomm. And considering it was Qualcomm that came up with CDMA, that's not all that surprising.

[Frankenstein Black @ Oct 31st 2007 4:40PM]

Amen Brother!
Engadget: "Verizon dumps CDMA for GSM-based LTE in 4G networks"
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/verizon-dumps-cdma-for-gsm-based-lte-in-4g-networks/

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 6:40PM]

You're dumb. First of all, the networks are locked. There are 0 locks on the phones, outside of VZW replacing some phone UI's/features.

Ever hear of R-UIM? No? Google it. China and Korea (and possibly others) use it.

I can go take my Verizon phone, or my friend's Sprint phone, to China, Africa, Korea, or where ever and use it on the CDMA networks there.

[Jesse S @ Oct 31st 2007 6:41PM]

Data is separate on CDMA too.

And, if Google did a phone, they'd probably make it a world phone, and just go GSM in Europe, and CDMA in the US and other countries.