2007 was the year of speculation of a Google Phone, or Gphone. Handset manufacturer HTC was the center of attention around most of the rumors. But Google eventually squashed those rumors by announcing the Open Handset Alliance and Android. Instead of building an iPhone like device and service combined, they’d be backing an open source mobile operating system that could finally break the carriers’ stranglehold on the mobile market.
Android doesn’t preclude Google from creating their own mobile device as well though, that will work as a best of breed device. Google has never said they wouldn’t build their own phone exactly, but when they wrote last November that they were not announcing a Gphone at that time, most of the speculation died down.
But today Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin and CEO Eric Schmidt made nebulous statements that are leaving us wondering if Google is now thinking of building that gPhone: “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.”
As Om Malik notes, this isn’t a direct quote but rather a summary of what was said by Hollywood Reporter writer Dan Cox. But a “branded mobile phone” is very different than Google’s Android project. Unless Cox got the summary wrong, the statements were significant.
And there’s more - we’ve been tracking a story recently that San Francisco based Ammunition Design Group, which has designed computers, mobile phones, hardware, and other devices for companies like Palm, Hewlett-Packard, Dell Computer, and Logitech, may be working with Google to create an Android-based, Google branded Gphone. Founder Robert Brunner was previously the Director of Industrial Design at Apple Computer until 1997, where he provided design and direction for all Apple product lines.
The image above is a phone that Ammunition Group designed for Sprint and is shown on their website.
This all may be nothing, but we’ve got a good source swearing that Ammunition Group is designing the Gphone and that it is a seriously beautiful device. We’ve moved this story from the back burner into high gear, we’ll see what we come up with as we dig.
I knew I’d be glad for not getting an iPhone just yet..
I really hope this is true. Competition FTW!
Sounds to me like one of Google’s products which sounds important but will have absolutely no impact on the world. Like Google Base the “Ebay Killer”, Google Pay the “Paypal Killer” and many other “killers” which disappeared faster than they appeared.
Google is a web service to me and not a manufacturer of lifestyle products. You need the “Apple magic” or the experience of Nokia to push a mobile phone worldwide into the market.
Google should better work on its search and innovate that, while cooperating with Apple, Microsoft and Nokia to place their products nicely. The outcome would be much better than a fully integrated company with no real face (like they are becoming now)
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Google may not KILL the markets they get into, but for those who have a google account they are useful services. I’m really looking forward to gPhone.
GPhone is a great idea. Hope they do it.
Instead of the name GPhone - a better concept might be GMobile.
Hopefully, it will be a compact and powerful all in one device that understands HTML, Javascript, flash and video formats - as well as offering both cellphone and WAN based calling connections.
But will IPhone users then move to GPhone or will it be irrepressible to carry around and use both.
Doesn’t seem likely. Perhaps there will be a divide among the loyal Apple users who will see the GPhone as the enemy
Lets see.
I disagree Arthur. First, I fail to see why a little competition for the mobile handset market is a bad thing. Competition forces others to create better products. Second, no one churns out wicked hot apps/products constantly. Every company since the dawn of time has produced a slew of bad products intermixed with a few good ones, and that goes for every market. If Apple had the same attitude you’re advocating, they’d still be just another computer manufacturer — no iPhone, no iTunes, no iPod.
Third, this Apple magic you speak of is a myth. Apple wasn’t always on the top, where was their magic then? I get that Jobs was gone, but even when he was there they weren’t on top. They may have a handful of great products, but its not magic.
If companies didn’t test the waters in various markets, they’d never grow or innovate. Company A would always and forever be a manufacturer of toilet paper. Company B would also produce napkins. And that would be that.
I’ll admit that Google historically hasn’t been that interested in hardware (besides the db/server farm stuff), but nothing is preventing them from trying. Android is having a bit of a hard time getting off the ground — it makes sense that they’d launch their own phone to generate hype. I, for one, am a tad worried that despite the great Android platform, manufacturers will fail to develop quality version of both the Android OS itself, or the apps that accompany the OS. After all, there is a plethora of horrible software built on great platforms. Google SHOULD release a damn good Android-based phone to show users/manufacturers how great Android can be.
haha….
replacement for iphone … thats really funny…
like replacing an apple computer
like replacing itunes
will never happen…. hardware and software especially internet software is a very different business.
If i was steve jobs… i would get seriously pissed and build my own search engine
How can you b glad you didnt get an iPhone yet beacuse someone shows a picture of a piece of vapourware. Something that has not been handled let alone manufactered and sold?
Android is vaporware and until we actually see a real product come to market no one say it will be good bad useless or the most awesomest phone device in the universe
Rememeber Apples first phone the ROKR it was a total piece of crap probably one of the worst phones ever designed in my opinion.
I hope android does well and really does bring an awesome phone or 2 to the cellphone market. But it sure isnt happening for a while
@Chris Eigner
while you are right… its important to stay focused on your core competencies.
@Chris
I think the internet market is broad enough for innovation, so that Google does not necessarily has to go into other too far markets.
Apple is an expert for software and exclusive hardware with lifestyle character.
Google is expert for websoftware and infrastructure.
Nokia is a mobile phone giant who knows how to satisfy the needs of the mass-public (not only the premium lifestyle guys).
Everybody should stay in their industry. I do not want to see Apple doing cars or watches. The same I would expect Google to create some innovative web software for mobile phones and watches, but not the hardware itself.
If they want to experiment, they should create a new brand. Otherwise they harm themselves if the new product fails.
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http://www.speed.io - Most modern DSL broadband speedtest
google is gonna do to the cell phone industry what microsoft did to IBM. plain and simple. 5 years from now, I bet most cell phones (except iPhones of course) will be ‘Android Compatible’. And you know why? because that’s exactly what happened to the PC…
with Nokia in the role of IBM
LG will be Dell
Google will become Microsoft
and Apple… well … will continue being Apple with a closed platform.
and we’re gonna be suddenly projected 15 years ago. Remember? when apple was a small company with hardware/software targeting graphic designers and yuppies…
thus it’s a smart move from Google if they finally release a Gphone. they’re simply playing exactly what did microsoft with IBM. They partenered to launch the first desktop PC for everyone to see what Microsoft Dos could do.
With Ammunition (those guys are really good designers!) not only Google can come up with a true iPhone killer. For those who doubts, check this out: http://snurl.com/2xruv yes, this team from germany is working on an app for android that offers real ‘live maps’ through Augmented Reality, and it’s truly amazing!!! iPhone won’t be able to beat the creativity of 1,000’s of developpers worldwide.
Finally, Google will win this battle. They always win.
Well, this can be a two shape-edge sword for Google. If they succeed, they can transform himself into hardware and software companies. If they fails, it can be the end of google era and doom for Google.
lets see if steve jobs ha answer for it?
what about GOOG’s CEO — will he withdraw from Apple board?
I haven’t bought an iPhone specifically because I’m waiting for a do-it-all device that runs Android. Anything that gets that moving along faster is a good thing.
All the talk about Google OS long ago and some people fail to realize that Android is Google OS 1.0. The people “worried” over this isn’t just Apple. It’s more so Microsoft. The OS battle for tablet/mobile computers will be interesting in coming years.
@Daniel
I bet some people thought that about Sony’s Walkman. Those who have the money to pay out the ass for the “Apple lifestyle”: by all means, enjoy. Personally, I want competition, better products, and more options.
I heard the same rumors through my mobile industry contacts for 2 years. But things have changed.
First, the launch of iPhone was web for cell phone in that mobile application is switching to mobile web apps. In other words rather than Symbian C++, J21me MIDP, or etc javascrript html, and etc.
Second, the launch of iPhone changed how one could deal with mobile telecoms is you were that handset OEM.
This is about two things mobile web developers and users and seems to follow the the MS pattern in the 1980s and 1990s in that they are striving through the platform to get both users and developers.
So what does a physical gPhone play in this? It allows the Google brand to be come a focusing beacon using the Google brand to get both users an developers.
I think the point here is that Google want to open up the mobile market to pave the way for their dominance on the web to cross over to all mobiles. If they rely on Apple, with their closed model of the iphone, and Nokia with symbian os and their reluctance to innovate, it will take another 5 years for real internet to penetrate down the chain to the lowest common demoninator.
@Arthur K: This is all about their core competincies, the web software. They want to be brining google maps, google mail, search, picasa etc to every user on the planet on their phone. If the Gphone proves what can be done with Android, then its definitely worth their investment, since other phone manufacturers will follow suite and we have competition driving the real web onto all phones.
Gphone is the coolest idea and I wish Ammunition Group good luck!
As I the only one who thinks that Sprint phone up there is an ugly brick? If that’s the best this lot can do, Apple have no competition.
Once again it looks as if Microsoft is being left behind in this digital age, as both Apple and Google look to dominate the Mobile OS.
In this decade Apple has given us the iPod, iPod Touch and the iPhone. Whilst Microsoft has given us the Xbox, Xbox 360 and the Zune.
Although there has been many rumours that Microsoft is working on a Handheld Xbox, I believe that there is a tremondous opportunity for Microsoft to develop a Xbox/Zune gadget that could also be used as a Mobile Phone.
The Zune will never compete on its own against the iPod. But if there was an integrated Model that could also play popular Xbox titles, such as Halo and Gears of War, it could become a huge market mover.
Sony’s PSP has never really taken off, whilst Nokia’s Ngage will never be a success - as Nokia is not a bona-fide Games Developer.
Imagine a Xbox/Zune gadget that can also work as a Mobile Phone, with of course Windows Mobile Apps working through it and many other Microsoft Live Services.
It is paramount that Microsoft tries to get across its Live Services onto its own Mobile OS, especially its own Mapping Services. As right now Google Maps dominates the Mobile Mapping Spectrum.
Microsoft lost the Search Battle and it looks as if they may lose the Mobile OS Wars.
Microsoft should drop this impossible courtship with Yahoo. How many advances must they make before they need a huge slap in the face, to realise that Yahoo does not love them.
I have a feeling that Google is getting a little cocky. Internet business is one thing. But messing with hardware market controlled by giants is something completely different.
I’m just guessing but if Google really starts to mess with this market it should be prepared for war.
How would they go to market? Through the carriers? In the US? Hmm…Seems implausible Verizon or ATT, or Tmob would take them there.
iPhone, gPhone, obsolete in a year or two anyway. I just want a tiny PC w/ a high-resolution screen that rolls up into my pocket and a nice folding bluetooth keyboard. Can you get smaller than that w/o sacrificing image quality/tactile response? What’s the point of a little computer w/o a good keyboard?
I cannot choose between I-phone and this. haha. Think I gotta buy this one.
The carriers control the pipe, including who can access it and what they can do with it. Android won’t see the light of day unless they play with the carriers.
The carriers, in case anyone hasn’t noticed, aren’t all that hung up on the capabilities of phones. They aren’t technology companies, they’re service companies. They care about phones to the extent that they can earn more service dollars from them.
For as ho-hum as Windows Mobile is, Microsoft has been fighting the deployment battle on handsets across carriers for years. For anyone to expect the carriers to roll over because Google showed up with a shiny new mobile OS just doesn’t understand how the mobile market in the U.S. actually operates.
I predict Android to have slightly less than the success of Windows Mobile. The only significant change that is if Google is the pipe, and not an existing carrier.
I also heard, Tmobile is going for GPhone, like AT&T did for iPhone.
It would be a worth while news for me if Verizon wireless gets the Gphone. Verizon phones really suck.
Hope it is just no the timing for the news, just because IPhone has just released the next version..( 3G )
Looking forward for Gphone…
Cheers, Nag
As much as I love the iPhone there are some big missing links that competition would spur change!
- Unable to run flash
- No Voip
- No background apps
iPhone is great yet it is not the complete Internet in the palm of your hands!
@Daniel wrote: will never happen…. hardware and software especially internet software is a very different business.
So is online retailing and creating an electronic book reader/web browsing device but Amazon has shown some success.
If Google wants to succeed with Android (in competing with apple) they have to build their own phone for a simple reason: If they leave it up to third parties like HTC, samsung etc. they’ll end up with the same ugly, convoluted and no fun to use devices that windows mobile run on. Only by controlling both sides, hardware and software they’ll be able to provide the perfect experience.
Creating their own phone would be a smart move since it would set the ’standard’ for other manufacturers that build Android based devices. As a result android devices will have higher appeal to consumers AND the platform will receive strong following by developers with the ability to reach deep into the system.
@Michael Arrington
The only thing I don’t understand is how Google wants to ‘break the stranglehold of the carriers on the mobile market’ by supporting the Android platform and building their own device? I always thought that the power the carriers have comes form their licenses and network infrastructure. There is an open market for devices (even if they’re crappy) and systems but without a good network you can’t provide the service.
I’d be extremely excited about google building their own network as an ‘open’ platform and run it based on their ‘free access, monetize on traffic’ business model. The mobile market needs some serious kicking ass and the removal of the concrete heads from the old telcos to become the next big thing after the desktop internet.
Here google goes again probably pissing off Apple to no end. There officially the enemy of every major tech company now. Who do the Google guys think they are? This is another sign of complete and total arrogance. From what I understand, not many in the mobile industry want Google to succeed. Many will put open source linux on their phones rather than android.
Eventually all of Googles spare capital will be eaten up by these projects(Lively, checkout) and yes, android. The MAJOR problem with them is they don’t focus. They get bored and start another side project hoping it’ll rake in billions. When it doesn’t then they just jump again. This is why they’re failing in almost everything other than search and email.
JGuy - You couldn’t be anymore wrong IMO. These guys have a a rare opportunity to get into other field and liberate the other medias, where as previously every sector was controlled by it’s own mafia.
Apple has nothing to worry about. if they continue the innovation, the will be always rewarded for it.
Google pushing the envelope goes to show how ridiculously pale and backwards the mobile industry has been for years. Apple and Google are changing the game.
Google entering the mobile world would be a godsend! really! apple is just like any other company, it has proprietary technology and does not want to give up any of it’s interest to allow competition on it’s platform.
Google on the other hand has zero interest in the other platforms. no one is influencing them. the Gphone can quite possibly support every known language and technology out there and level the playing field completely. apple didn’t do it completely, they did it the apple way.
Google needs a strong reference industrial design. Right now, All industrial design for the android platform is knock off of the blackberry or the iPhone. Android needs a beautiful incarnation.
This in no way implies manufacturing or sales.
People who think the gphone will replace the iphone are kind of delusional. People who use apple products are incredibly loyal. The iphone is more than just a mobile it is a status symbol. Apple has always had the coolest tech and Google won’t change that.
Gebadia….. people who use the iPhone will absolutely switch over to a “Gphone” if the service is free. Google could potentially offer a free or significantly cheap mobile service that is supported by mobile advertising? Could Google make a huge move and put in a bid to buy out a mobile carrier? It seems unlikely they would make this kind of investment. However, a 19.99/month google mobile service, a killer phone, and an android operating system would get my business.
Ryan
http://www.gothamtechminute.blogspot.com
come on guys, first this design could be at least 50 years old and is not innovative. Second android platform is a good develoment platform, but we must see if the usability works or their just copy bad ui like openmoko. The problem of opensoftware is that is most time not innovative in sense of usability. I think their will be in two years an other small company really changing the game in mobile software. In the end the gphone is just another search by google to grow and get marketshair. In other fields then the search business, because say burned a lot of money for new playgrounds like YouTube.
This is very surprising news. Do you have any news on the pricing?
i think the only way for google to compete is to offer a lower priced phone.
but Apple has always had the best tech at a good price.
Practically, everyone i know has an ipod and uses it a lot. nobody has zune or something else
Daniel
http://www.nuxr.com
One thing is certain - these Google folks are doing incredible PR work.
All we’ve got here is a quote of a journalist “digesting” whatever he believes he’s heard.
Start with the observation that Google is an advertising business and this whole endeavor seems like a house of cards. The simple question to start with is whether Google will sell more than $30/month of location-based mobile advertising per user. If you really want to be objective about it, one could further ask whether every gPhone/Android user would buy $300+/month of local product and services that they wouldn’t otherwise buy to justify location-centric businesses paying that monthly $30 to advertise on gPhone/Android. If this isn’t plausible, then Google will not likely be offering a free or discounted service to users, and what we’ll end up with is annoying advertising in addition to the current high mobile rates (the insult to injury scenario). I’m not an Apple fanboy, but Steve Jobs has played and is still playing a high-stakes game of chicken with carriers to change their business models, and he’s not even proposing to do something as disruptive as try to get them to shift to an advertising-based model. Will Android be a nice mobile OS? Probably. Will mobile advertising work for them? Not unless they have the muscle to strong-arm carriers in a way that even Apple and Microsoft can’t, otherwise, this thing as going to be even less successful at monetization than YouTube.
It sounds awkward that Google would come up with hardware, so far they haven’t done any hardware, only software and even more, mostly web oriented software. The solution is partnership and outsourcing part of the phone development but it still seems very far from what is Google’s main business. That being said, it is still possible they come up their own phone and I would be delighted if they did so.
a Gphone?? does dis sound fimiliar like iPhone?? =/
Hollywood Reporter story is wrong. No GPhone coming. We’ve explained here:
http://www.alleyinsider.com/20.....ogle-goog-
why is my comment awaiting moderation? too much text?
I have been to there labs some time back… but this gphone is far from reality for now … guess if that fails its difficult for google to recover too!!!
Google’s ego hurts a lot and pains too when it fails!!!
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Apple by pricing the iphone at “$199″ has killed the market for emerging cool phones as the leader in the market has accepted that the segment is very price-sensitive and does not give a premium for innovative products.
So even if google were to launch a coolest-of-the-cool-gphone-and-iphone-killer …still they would finally lose money out of it.
http://www.meetingflex.com
In the big picture what we’re really moving toward is small handheld computers that make phone calls as well. Sure blackberry, apple, nokia etc have marketshare but it can easily be shifted to another company or back and forth. Consumers aren’t forced to choose a side and stick with it like windows versus mac, although mac users get a large benefit from going with the iPhone. Windows users not as much.
The way the hardware is today, mobile companies have to create special operating systems to run on the hardware with fairly weak processors — but wait until that changes. Inevitably they will be powerful enough to run more capable versions of lite OSX, lite Windows or Linux, and then these devices get really useful.
I have an iPhone and it’s good, but it’s still a watered down version of what a computer and the internet can do. It doesn’t have the full internet, the apps are limited and mostly games so far. It does the simple things that were terrible about most phones, really well. But it’s not that amazing.
If Google can come up with a platform that offers real hooks into apps that are useful (flex, flash, google gears, silverlight, etc) the device would be successful. I don’t know about a “killer” of anything but it’s definitely not too late to get into the game and kick some ass. It’s still the wild west in the mobile market, and Apple has proven this by turning things upside down in only a couple of years.
Come on Google, let’s see what you can do!!!
well well well.. the GPhone is back… but I’ll believe it when I see it.
if the “seriously beautiful” gphone is anything like the crap in that pic, good luck catching up to the hotness of iphone or the appeal of razr (version 1). google should stick to android.