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Peer Review: GPhone rumors stoke commentary, creativity
Google phone rumors have been circulating for months, but speculation crescendoed (we hope) this week, with Engadget reporting that Google will announce its "mobile platform" in the "very near future." CrunchGear hears that the phones will be produced by HTC or Samsung, or both, and will run Google Talk, which allows users to make free or very cheap calls over the Internet. Piper Jaffrey, an investment bank that give financial advice, called the rumors circulating on the Web (including here) "partially credible."
But what will the phone look like? Over the course of 2007, designers have designed and Photoshopped a ton of different options. After the jump, we've rounded up our favorite "gPhone" mockups. Which is your favorite? What would you like to see in a Google phone? We've rounded up a few views from around the Web, but would love to hear yours.
"Google will be met with a significant amount of competition that it wields no advantage over. Cell phones are a different ballgame and if you ask me, Google is ill-equipped to play this game." , CNet
"The most exciting part of the Gphone rumor-mongering is the word that phone might use ads to subsidize your minutes and texts. In other words — free calls! How they would go about doing this without completely ruining the experience is anybody's guess." , CrunchGear
"It makes sense for Google to be talking to mobile carriers in countries where PC density is marginal. By tightly integrating the Google Apps, Google Phone could become a viable rival to the much ballyhooed $100 PC." , GigaOM
"If it runs Linux, has Google Maps and GPS, I'll be the first in line to buy one.", Information Week
This one is supposedly a "leaked" image of the phone. If that's true, maybe Google should have contacted some the designers above first.
By trsim at 3:23 PM ON 09/02/07
Maybe I'm just crazy, but I'm not too thrilled with any of the phone concepts, although my personal favorite among what is actually available is the black one that is supposedly a "leaked" image. Of the others photoshopped, the top one is the most reasonable. The second one down (with the slide out screen) just seems incredibly impractical (both for cost as well as usability) and the next one down has what looks like a joystick on it. A joystick? Most of my phones just end up in my pocket, and I can just imagine all the questions that would come from that. "Why no, it's not a banana, it's my gPhone." Of course I guess if you're going to be the first in line for a new Google Phone you probably use some kind of fancy cell phone holder anyway.
I guess I just expected a giant like Google to be able to release something that would be able to look as sleek/cool as the iPhone. Granted, it needs to be a phone first, but still.
By blissfulpain at 4:43 PM ON 09/02/07
I don't own a cell phone yet, and haven't been interested in all the bells and whistles on the new ones which I know I'll never use. The Blackberry is too expensive for me in monthly costs so that's out of the picture too. The iPhone I wouldn't buy anyways, but I think it missed a great opportunity to set new standards.
I think the Gphone will exemplify what google does best, simple and functional. They are going to want numbers, not deep pockets. I think their phone will go for relatively cheap compared to current market ones and I imagine the ads will go a long way to support the services it provides. I think that will set trends.
Can you imagine GPS+GoogleEarth/Maps? That'd be awesome. I think Google will make a good phone for the right price, something that everyone can afford and find useful... if they can pull that off, I'll be picking one up.
By murcielago05 at 12:39 AM ON 09/04/07
I agree with "blissfulpain"
My current phone is a razor with Versizon....I would love to never have to use Verizon again.
I hope google buys the 700mhz spectrum when it goes up for sale.....that way (unlike apple (which used AT&T)) they can offer a good phone...and use their own network.
If they did that, and put a monthly price at 30 bucks....they would have me in a second.
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murcielago05:
I agree with "blissfulpain" My current phone is a razor with Versizon....I would love to never have to use Verizon...More »