Rumors that have long been circulating around “Google phone” got extra fuel Tuesday when new online reports surfaced that Google is planning to release a handset-optimized operating system in September.
Complimenting the mobile-devices, for long, with so many mobile-based applications such as Web search, e-mail, mapping and other Web services, the online search giant, Google Inc. is now developing its own mobile phone, the industry insiders and analysts have been speculating for long.
There are strong rumors floating high in the air that Google is developing new software tailored to run on mobile phones that goes well beyond the applications for phones Google already offers for accessing services such as search and maps.
According to the latest reports, the “gPhone” is just two weeks away from launch. Talks are taking place with Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, India's first and third largest mobile telephony operators, the reports state.
“Sources close to the development said a simultaneous launch across the US and Europe is expected, and announcements would be sent to media firms in India and other parts of the world. US regulatory approval, which is expected soon, is the only hurdle that Google is waiting to cross, they added. Google plans to invest $7-8 billion for its global telephony foray,” a report said.
Some earlier reports, emerged in the first week of this month, stated that Google has developed prototype cell phones that could be out within a year. It was reported that the search engine company has been testing new software and mobile services to bundle it all together with its search engine and new mobile web browser, to be able to present an attractive product.
Although, rumors of Google-phone have been floating frequently on the internet for months, the company is dodging detailed questions. “We don't comment on market rumor or speculation. However, Google is committed to providing users with access to the world's information, and mobile becomes more important to those efforts every day. We're collaborating with partners worldwide to bring Google search and applications to mobile users everywhere. However, we have nothing to announce at this time,” a Google spokesperson said in response to these fresh reports.
The first rumors about a “Google phone” have emerged in December 2006 when a United Kingdom newspaper, The Observer published that Google seems to be interested in developing a “branded Google phone”.
Since then, media reports and blogs are saying that Google was working on a phone project, and the device is in progress.
The speculation surged earlier in March when a top Google executive in Europe confirmed the existence of a phone project. Google's chief executive in Spain and Portugal, Isabel Aguilera, acknowledged at the time that the company has been working on a mobile phone. "Some of our engineers' time is dedicated to the development of a mobile phone," Aguilera mentioned during an interview with Spanish news site Noticias.com.
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