Google Phone launching end of 2007?

The on-again, off-again Google Phone rumors just got a healthy stir by Digitimes. The Taiwanese tech rag says that HTC is building the phone with initial shipments set to hit by the "end of 2007" -- globally in 2008. They cite "handset component makers" as their source. The phones will feature Texas Instruments' 3G platform with EDGE and of course built-in G-Mail and Google Maps. Unfortunately, they will not be GPS enabled. The handsets are also said to sport both Google and carrier branding with "sources" claiming that European's Orange might be the first carrier to see the hotness. Digitimes doesn't have the best track record with rumors so please everybody... exhale and let's wait for secondary confirmation.

[Jim @ Apr 21st 2007 10:38AM]

@Lizi

Well, I was just joking. But it is not that far fetched. People already let them analyze their email, searches, purchasing habits, finances, etc.. Phone conversations aren't any more personal than all of that data.

-jim

[Zut @ Apr 18th 2007 7:41AM]

I hear it will have an OLED keypad made by Art Lebedev and will come pre-installed with Duke Nukem Forever.

Frankly I don't give a damn about a google phone. A) If this IS real then it sounds horribly technically inferior, and B) Most decent phones already do maps and gmail. Nokia N95 anyone?

[dotarj @ Apr 18th 2007 8:30AM]

"I hear it will have an OLED keypad made by Art Lebedev and will come pre-installed with Duke Nukem Forever."

Muhahaha! Good one!

[Darnell @ Apr 18th 2007 8:17AM]

Is it me or is this just illogical... Not that Google makes a lot of logical moves--but I'd think they'd have the hardest time getting into this market because they have nothing extra to offer us.
Google earth is already present in a number of phones...
Not to mention youtube and gmail can be had on other phones too...
They don't have any OS to separate them...
They don't do hardware either...
So that leaves them to pretty much rebrand a phone...

[Dan Elkayam @ Apr 18th 2007 8:19AM]

Woot I use Orange. Hopefully that source isn't talking out of its ass.

[Nick @ Apr 18th 2007 9:30AM]

And hopefully Orange won't insist on putting THEIR version of the software on there, as they do with 99% of the phones they sell.
God I hated that stuff.

[Snailfur @ Apr 18th 2007 8:20AM]

You need to remember, Google's CEO is on the Apple board. Why would one of them try to take sales from the other? Of course, Google's CEO will make more money if the device is sold directly from Google, but with the success of the iPod I am sure iPhone will sell more units than a Google phone and Google's CEO will profit from that.

Also, iPhone would of had a couple of months selling time before the "Google Phone" is expected to be released. Therefore Google Phone would loose out on all the people looking for a full touch screen phone. The only way Google Phone would succeed is if the cost of the device was far cheaper than iPhone - Giving consumers 3 phone options (Google Phone, iPhone Small and iPhone).

Time will tell.

[Leonard Nimrod @ Apr 18th 2007 8:20AM]

DigiTimes said it so it must be true /sarcasm

[Alex @ Apr 18th 2007 8:49AM]

Google Wimax network, coming soon. :)

[Mike @ Apr 18th 2007 9:10AM]

@Zut: Seriously?! How could you not care?

The gPhone is gonna be awesome. So many companies use Googles services, they will definitely be picking up their smart phones. It's gonna be great. No more MS monopoly on data and BBerry monopoly on wireless messaging.

[Chris @ Apr 18th 2007 3:20PM]

ha

[Ben @ Apr 18th 2007 9:16AM]

Launching a phone with Google Maps and withOUT GPS sounds very stupid and makes the rumor sounds quite fake.

[brian @ Apr 18th 2007 9:43AM]

Apple did it. It's one of the main reasons I won't be getting an iPhone, certainly not this gen.

[Ben @ Apr 18th 2007 10:03AM]

Yes but Apple is not the maker of Google Maps!! Lauching a Google Phone with Google Maps withOUT a GPS is like launching an IPhone withOUT Itunes!

[Alan Strangis @ Apr 18th 2007 10:08AM]

Orange first? Has google launched anything without it being immediately available in North America? Sounds kinda hinky to me.

[naok @ Apr 18th 2007 10:14AM]

@Ben

It doesn make sense to sell the gphone without gps... that way they can sell you the gps separately and make money again...

[benjamin @ Apr 18th 2007 10:21AM]

geeze,, who isnt making fones now?!?

next thing will be a walmart fone,, complete with gps directory to all stores, including an inside store directory,,,

[aMONKEYonCRACK @ Apr 23rd 2007 7:10PM]

Really! But seriously, it would be "awesome" if Blockbuster would jump on the bandwagon and make a phone so you can rent movies on the go. That would be Blockbuster's "just another reason to waste your money and rent movies that you'll never probably return anyway from us than Netflix".

[Jim @ Apr 18th 2007 10:30AM]

You'll get free phone service in exchange for having Google display ads based on what your conversation is about. Maybe they'll play ads during your phone calls as well.

[Bill @ Apr 18th 2007 10:48AM]

They're citing component manufacturers and the source of their info... could these manufacturers just be ramping up for the 3G version of the iPhone and they misinterpreted this? From what we're hearing about Leopard it'll have a bunch of Google integration so adding more Google features to the 3G wouldn't be unheard of (and could explain Digitimes confusion).

[eric.james @ Apr 18th 2007 11:21AM]

The use of GPS is not optional in the US. This article cannot be taken seriously.

[brian @ Apr 18th 2007 7:46PM]

Not optional? In what way is it not optional?

[w00fd06 @ Apr 18th 2007 2:53PM]

Someone has to install Linux on this thing.

[_V3ndetta_ @ Apr 19th 2007 11:15AM]

How can you say that without even trying the Google operating system? And I doubt Linux would compete with the iPhone's Leopard. That's probably what Google is aiming to compete with, no??

[johnny be good @ Apr 21st 2007 12:46PM]

I've heard Motorola is coming with some linux based phones ...

[tnkgrl @ Apr 18th 2007 5:21PM]

The device in the picture looks a lot like the Deeda "Pi": http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/tasty-bits-17/

[sethmo @ Apr 18th 2007 9:15PM]

Why would you want an all touchscreen phone with no real buttons? You know how much its going to suck to text message no the Google and iPhones? Fingerprints everywhere! So impractical.

[Wayne @ Apr 20th 2007 6:08PM]

Ships with Google's tISP service as well...

[JR @ Apr 23rd 2007 7:08PM]

Snailfur...most iPod owners have never even CONSIDERED buying another Apple product in their lvies. Most iPod owners happily use Windows based PCs and would never considered getting a Mac. there is NO reason to thikn that the iPhone will achieve ANY type of success that the iPod does. It will be a tiny, barely significant niche product like all other Apple products. And perhaps like man Apple products, it will be pretty much forgotten by 2009.

[John @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:51PM]

...guess that means only a select few will get them... the rest of "us" will have to know these people in order to get one... yay! more viral marketing! ...or, let me guess, they will all be in BETA for 4 years before they finally slap a warranty on them.... honestly, how will Google market this one?

[Mattitude @ Apr 24th 2007 9:50AM]

What's an "Art Lebedev"?