gphone

GPhone speculation strikes again

Sue Marek — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:49:08 -0400

Just when you thought all rumors of the GPhone had been quashed for good, they strike again. TechCrunch is reporting that Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergei Bring and CEO Eric Schmidt made "nebulous" statements to Hollywood Reporter writer Dan Cox leaving some to wonder if the company is once again thinking about building a GPhone. In an article, Cox writes, "The trio of Google execs also used the opportunity to talk about the inroads the company is making with its own branded mobile phone as a replacement for the iPhone."

In addition, TechCrunch says that a source has told them that Ammunition Design Group, a San Francisco-based firm that designs computers, mobile phones and hardware for companies such as Palm, HP, Dell and others, may be working with Google to create an Android-based Google branded GPhone.

Last year Google was rumored to be developing a GPhone and was said to even have been talking to various carriers about the device. However, those rumors died down after the company in November launched its Google Android open source mobile operating system.

For more:
- see this report

Related articles:
SPOTLIGHT: Google: Still not building a Gphone
Google unveils Android, Open Handset Alliance

Google details cell phone agenda

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:59:58 -0500

After months of rumors and speculation, Google has finally revealed some details of its ambitious cellular phone agenda. The company said today that it is creating a new cell phone platform, called Android, that will include an operating system, user interface and applications.

But the company isn't going it alone. Instead it has enlisted the help of at least 30 high profile partners as part of the initiative, called the Open Handset Alliance. The group includes manufacturers such as HTC Corp., Qualcomm, Samsung and Motorola and operators T-Mobile International, Sprint Nextel and NTT DoCoMo. Of course, noticeably absent from the list are the two largest U.S. operators: AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

For more:
- see this WSJ article. (sub req.)
- see this NY Times piece

Related Articles:
June: Google outlines mobile strategy Article
Google now running Adwords on mobile Article
Google's latest moves show prep for gPhone Article

Report: Google to reveal mobile plans Monday

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:59:57 -0400

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, on Monday Google will reveal its rumored alliance with various handset makers and at least on carrier in the U.S. for an "open" mobile OS. According to the report, Google will be working with Sprint and T-Mobile USA. Our own polling (at the time of going to press) suggests that Fierce readers agree with that prediction. Samsung, LG and Sony Ericsson are likely candidates for the handset partnership, but the WSJ's sources say HTC is the most likely. While the announcement is likely to cause a big stir in the media, the market won't see any commercially launched devices until the middle of next year, the report claims.

For more on the rumored announcement:
- read this article from the WSJ (sub. req.)

Related Articles:
June: Google outlines mobile strategy Article
Google now running Adwords on mobile Article
Google's latest moves show prep for gPhone Article

Report: Google makes software, not handsets

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:59:55 -0400

A New York Times report about the rumored Google Phone is making a lot of waves in the blogosphere today, but it only serves to confirm what we already know: Google makes software, not phones. Most of the rumors about the gPhone have always paired Google with a handset maker (often HTC) to handle the hardware aspects of a gPhone. The report cites various inside sources to claim that Google's intention is to take on the Windows Mobile OS platform with an OS and Linux-based suite of applications that it will offer to carriers in exchange for shared mobile advertising revenue. One mobile marketing executive, JumpTap CEO Dan Olschwang, characterized the plan as one to "disaggregate carriers."

For more on the gPhone:
- read the NYTimes article

Related articles:

More details emerge on the Google's gPhone
gPhone drilldown

Blurring the line between IT and entertainment

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:24:24 -0400

It's getting harder than ever to separate the software developers from the content providers. Consider the headline-grabbing events of recent weeks: Nokia introducing Ovi, a new Internet services brand that promises to enable consumer access to social networks, communities and content as well as provide a gateway to Nokia services. Or Google remaining hard at work on the so-called gPhone, a handset platform expected to include its own proprietary mobile OS, mobile versions of existing Google software and services and built-in developer tools. There's Microsoft proclaiming "We really want mass and scale" in mobile and negotiating to acquire a stake in social networking community Facebook. And, last but not least, Apple's iPhone, the device so much in demand operator execs are seemingly willing to sacrifice almost anything to have it.

Heading into this month's CTIA I.T. Wireless & Entertainment event in San Francisco, the mobile market is in flux like never before--Apple and Google, the two brands presently dominating discussion whether the subject is handsets or applications development, were barely a blip on the industry radar even a year ago. Insider reports suggest Google is poised to welcome third-party gPhone applications with open arms--Apple is bound and determined to shut them down, issuing a warning to consumers that it will void the warranties on any iPhones modified either to add unauthorized apps or to operate via networks other than operator partner AT&T. But the volume of iPhone owners who've hacked their devices is emblematic of a fast-evolving consumer perspective--seemingly overnight, the focus has shifted away from conventional multimedia applications such as music and video to more hands-on, interactive services emphasizing messaging, location and voice recognition. For mobile developers with new, even more innovative applications waiting in the wings, the timing has never been better.

Still, at this point it's hard to anticipate exactly what kind of event CTIA I.T. Wireless & Entertainment 2007 will turn out to be. Even the keynote roster suggests an industry moving in all kinds of different directions--record industry mogul Quincy Jones is the featured attraction at Monday's Mobile Entertainment Live! forum, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will keynote the Tuesday morning session, and Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz will headline Wednesday. But if ever there was a CTIA event to throw stuff at the wall, this is the one--anything and everything has a legitimate shot to stick. Ready, aim, fire. -Jason

P.S. FierceMarkets will bring you all the news and scoops from the CTIA I.T. Show. We are the official online show daily for CTIA. We will deliver all the news in our regular issue and at a custom micro-site entitled "CTIA Live!" Click here to check out the website.

ALSO NOTED: Samsung America's new CMO; Moto switch milestone; and much more...

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:59:50 -0400

> Google now mulling 3G for gPhone, report claims. Article

> Samsung Telecommunications America names Bill Ogle CMO. Release

> Motorola has sold 100,000 wireless switches. Release

> Phone companies look to add mobile phone inspired features to landlines phones. Article (WSJ sub. req.)

> Ten VoIP phones featured at FierceVoIP. Images

And Finally... CNET reports that the Copyright Office Chief does not own a computer and is a self-proclaimed Luddite. Article

ALSO NOTED: Texting and voting; MVNOs in Europe; and much more...

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:59:50 -0400

> Texting boosts young voter turnout. Article

> Why MVNOs seem to work (better?) in Europe. Article

> Initiative leaves the campaign for AT&T's advertising budget. Some say it's because they already have an account with Verizon Wireless. Article

> Google mulling a 3G gPhone. Article

And Finally... New world record for the longest phone call: 40 hours. Article

Google's Adsense Mock-up Image

Mike Dolan — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:28:57 -0400

Here's is Google's Mock-up of their AdSense system....

Click here for more Googe coverage...

Google launches AdSense for Mobile

Mike Dolan — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 09:41:14 -0400

Google has officially launched their Google AdSense for Mobile (pic) allowing AdSense partners with mobile sites to add contextual advertising to their sites. Just like its web version, the system crawls mobile website content and places ads based on the content on the site. Website owners will earn money with each visitor click.

Google has rolled the service out in the U.S., England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Russia, Netherlands, Australia, India and China. Japan's AdSense will be ready in a few more weeks.

This is just the latest in Google's string of mobile moves. Last week, Google launched Adwords on their mobile search while spending the weeks previous hinting at the launch of the much anticipated gPhone.

Find out more:
- check out Google's release

- check out this mock-up image of the system in actionÃ‚Â

- read this article on the launch of Adwords

Google officially launches AdSense for Mobile

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:59:57 -0400

Google has officially launched their Google AdSense for Mobile allowing AdSense partners with mobile sites to add contextual advertising to their pages. Just like its web version, the system crawls mobile website content and places ads based on the content on the site. Website owners will earn money with each visitor click.

Google has rolled the service out in the U.S., England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Russia, Netherlands, Australia, India and China. Japan's AdSense will be ready in a few more weeks.

Find out more:
- check out Google's release
- read this article on the launch of Adwords
- read more about Google's latest wireless industry moves