Like everyone else, we’re written in the past about rumors of a Google Phone.
Today, the New York Times breaks some of the most interesting Google Phone news yet: it isn’t a hardware device at all but a suite of Linux-base software and applications that Google is trying to pitch to phone-makers and carriers.
Accompanied by a photo of a “praying” Google CEO Eric Schmidt, the story quotes “industry executives familiar with Google’s plans.” The key developments:
At the core of Google’s phone efforts is an operating system for mobile phones that will be based on open-source Linux software, according to industry executives familiar with the project. In addition, Google is expected to develop mobile versions of its applications that go well beyond the mobile search and map software it offers today. Those applications may include a Web browser to run on cellphones. While Google has built phone prototypes to test its software and show off its technology to manufacturers, the company is not likely to make the phones itself, according to analysts. In short, Google is not creating a gadget to rival the iPhone, but rather creating software that will be an alternative to Windows Mobile from Microsoft and other operating systems, which are built into phones sold by many manufacturers. And unlike Microsoft, Google is not expected to charge phone makers a licensing fee for the software.
Interesting. But screwing over your enemies (Microsoft) is one thing, but potentially strafing the mobile universe in order to take take mobile advertising revenues from your would-be partners isn’t exactly a clear path to a winning outcome.
Would carriers let their current mobile app decks get knocked out of place by the “Gphone” OS? Maybe for a share of the profits — and a big share. Would Google go for that? I imagine they’d have to.
All the talk about Windows Mobile is interesting, because for all of Steve Ballmer’s new-found interest in building an advertising business, we haven’t heard anything of turning Windows Mobile into an ad engine. Maybe another idea for Microsoft to embrace and extend.
So…carriers and device-makers: would you partner with Google to distribute a Gphone app and OS stack, subsidized by advertising? Let us know what you think.
