Google getting cozy with Verizon and Sprint for the Gphone?
By Nilay Patel 
posted October 31st 2007 12:46PM
posted October 31st 2007 12:46PM
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.
So, I could go to the US, grab a Sprint or Verizon phone for use while I'm there, and when I return to Canada, use that same phone on Telus here?
No?
But I can do that with T-Mo/Cingular/AT&T/ and Rogers/Fido (GSM).
All I need to do is walk up to my local Rogers or Fido dealer, and buy a "Pay as you go" SIM for $30, with $20 calling credit onboard.
I know this works. I moved from the UK, and took my Nokia 6260 (Which was on Orange PAYG) with me, and now it's running just fine on Rogers Wireless. And if I ever went back to the UK, all I need do is swap the Rogers SIM with my Orange SIM and I'd be back on their network. No muss, no fuss, no sitting on hold for hours trying to get a network to release their claws from the phone I've got, and waiting hours for another network to acknowledge I want to bring my own phone to their network.
Google already does hardware. Their search server solution is a 1U rackmount custom solution (there is a good breakdown on ARS). Of course building a custom PC and building a custom phone are two different things. Personally I love my Sprint phone and if Sprint offered a Google phone I'd most likely buy it. The two Samsung models I've had with them have been dualband tri-modes and in some remote areas in the northeast US it goes into analog mode, but in any city (like the DC Metro where I live), it's great.
- Tony R.
Even if the first device released is CDMA, they will have to make a GSM if they want any world expansion.
The Gphone is fake! Two students from the Netherlands got previous year the assignment to make a hype on the internet. And they came up with the idea to make a phone that's very easy to use. And they made a render of it (as you see above). Then they send it to engadget with the story that they where at some kind of secret meeting en they made a snapshot of it.
And now everyone believes it and it's a real hype now, so they did a really good job.
I think nobody will believe me, but is true!
wow compete with iphone!
charles
http://www.whatis.name
Google on Sprint would make my decade.