Despite the rumors, the New York Times says that software will be the emphasis of the Google phone. While Google has created prototypes for show-n-tell, their objective is not creating a rival to the iPhone, just software to rival Windows Mobile.

Google wants to be everywhere to leverage the mobile phone's advertising potential. Miguel Helft, the author of the NYT report, says that:

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.

He then cites industry sources, who point "that Google's strategy is to lead the creation of an open-source competitor to Windows Mobile." It makes sense, since Google has always been about the software and not the hardware, but it is still unclear how the whole thing will play out; especially when Google wants to "loosen the carriers' control over their networks" but they will need the carriers to sell the phone with Google software in them. [NYT]

4:58 AM on Mon Oct 8 2007
By Jesus Diaz
4,635 views
15 comments

Comments

kittenman at 06:27 AM on 10/08/07
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wow, surprise~~~

but wait a minute, dose the development of the Google OS need a prototype google phone anywayz? that's waste of money
strider_mt2k at 07:56 AM on 10/08/07
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Connectedness Index: 717
Brought to you by Acura TSX

It's not like Palm's doing squat in the "alternate OS" field.

I say give 'ol Google a chance first.

(Least I can do for all those successful searches it's helped me with!)
moosetoga at 08:39 AM on 10/08/07
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I can only speak for the Windows Mobile Smartphone Edition (on my BlackJack), but man, is it terrible. Crashes all the time, and tons of random buggy problems: crashes whenever I try and change sound settings, mobile IE stops working after the phone's been on for a day or so, randomly decides it doesn't want to sync with my PC, only to sync just fine the next day for no apparent reason...
nachobel at 09:07 AM on 10/08/07
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I have Win Mobile 6 on my T-Mo Dash.

It isn't good.
Johnny Chimpo at 09:37 AM on 10/08/07
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I used to have an HTC smartphone with Win Mo 5. Despite some decent specs it ran slower than Steven Hawking in a marathon.
ChopSue-Me at 09:41 AM on 10/08/07
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By default it IS a rival to iPhone since they want to replace OSX in the iPhone too.
permissionmag at 09:48 AM on 10/08/07
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To quote Steve Jobs quoting Alan Kay:
"People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware."
ctfoley at 09:51 AM on 10/08/07
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what about google becoming a carrier?
snowninja at 10:53 AM on 10/08/07
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Windows is such a slow and retarded operating system. Why anybody would want to copy it over mac opp sys is beyond me. If google makes windows based things I will no longer like google.
Dearhaw at 11:11 AM on 10/08/07
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@ChopSue-Me:

So if the Googlephone OS replaces OSX in the iPhone (which, btw, will never happen), the iPhone ceases to be an iPhone? Let's get your facts straight here. Since Apple doesn't sell the iPhone/iPod version of OSX to 3rd parties, they make money selling the hardware. If Google can make an OS that is so good that Apple will drop OSX in favor of it, Apple will actually make more money selling iPhones w/o the R&D costs for the OS. So, no, it is not, by default, a rival to the iPhone.
Evodico at 12:13 PM on 10/08/07
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This article pretty much sums up my thoughts on this issue:

Essentially, float the idea of a gPhone, create a proof-of-concept and get everyone talking, scare the crap out of all the carriers, make them play along or face the all mighty Google. Simple yet effective business approach... and Google can pull it off, since they have tons of cash. Google wants "clicks", not hardware sales. Why limit exposure to just your own product? They're simply pushing to have their logo on all hardware, but they couldn't care less to get into the hardware market. The gPhone is a gun to the all the carrier's heads, play nice or we'll pull the trigger and destroy your precious business model.

:: Why Google Won't Sell A gPhone
cello at 12:29 PM on 10/08/07
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Isn't giving your product (which costs $ to make) away for free, in an effort to get marketshare, called "dumping"?

Isn't Dumping illegal?
Stacky Botrus at 12:49 PM on 10/08/07
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I am thinking, google didnt make their own hardware, but borrowed some existing junk from HTC or some other OEM. The hardware is basically all the same - its the firmware that keeps you from dicking around with stuff.
rimplestultskin at 08:06 PM on 10/08/07
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@StackyBotrus:
i've seen pictures of a google-branded HTC touch. with an OS that looks quite different from WinMo 6, a lot, how should i put this.....better.
citizen.lambda at 01:41 AM on 10/09/07
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@cello: I don't think dumping would apply very well to such fields as software where it's rights not products per se being bought...or something like that. and no, IANAL