The Google Phone
Ok, so we now have confirmation via some reliable sources that Google is indeed going to be manufacturing and selling their own branded handset. This is not Android on an HTC, LG, or whoever device, it will be Android running on a Google branded device (which might be made by one of the mentioned manufacturers but will have no manufacturer’s logos and be licensed to Google as made by Google).
So before we begin, just want to refer you to a post we did back in July about How Google Could Revolutionize the Wireless Industry. Go take a look and come back, we’ll wait…
So it seems that that has been Google’s plan all along. At least to some extent.
Google seems to be creating their own phone that will take a SIM card (in all likelihood) and will have major Google Voice integration that will allow you to make all of your calls through Google Voice as VoIP calls, there by only using data and no voice or text messaging rates need to be incurred.
So there are two ways to implement this, one would be to become their own MVNO and use say T-Mobile’s or AT&T’s (or a combination of the both) towers and sell their own service through it and brand it as Google the phone company etc.
The other way (and the way I would believe they would do it) would be to sell the phone by itself and allow people the option to use it on any carrier they want (might even have CDMA and GSM built in so all the carriers are options). Then you would just choose a Data only plan from that carrier and Google’s services would be free (with some ad placement at some point I’m sure). This way Google doesn’t upset the current Wireless Industry since the carriers are still making their money on their data plans, you the consumer get a $50 or less unlimited everything plan, and Google gets a huge audience for their ads, statistics mining and the like (plus revenue from the phone sales of course).
I would think they would then do as they like to do and grab some wireless spectrum (which they have been eyeing in the past) and after a while put up their own towers and have their own separate phone company and send all the others crying to the FCC. Now, that would cause a huge uproar and lawsuits galore, so they might stay away from that for a while, but with Google its still a possibility.
The only issues I have with this concept, is the fact that generally Voice over IP (your phone calls over the data connection) needs at least a 3G connection and can still occasionally be crappy quality at that speed too. So if you HAD to have 3G to make a phone call, would it be worth saving the $30 or so from having an unlimited everything plan with say T-Mobile? Now of course, who knows if Google has come up with some proprietary way of compressing packets and making the VoIP work over EDGE as well, solving this issue.
Another issue, is the fact that unlimited everything plans are getting cheaper and cheaper naturally, and data plans themselves aren’t. So again if you could get unlimited everything now using say T-Mobile for $79.99 would you get a VoIP unlimited plan to save $30 or so (since most unlimited data only plans are $50 and keep in mind that most have a 5GB data cap on them as well)?
Last issue they would have to address is customer service. Google is not one for customer service, not that they give bad customer service, they just do give customer service. They really don’t like talking to the end consumer (no phone numbers for support of any kind on 99% of their products) so that would pose a whole new cost for them, they’d have to hire a support center to handle their wireless support if they chose to go that route and have their own company.
So what do you guys think about the concept, think there’s more to it? Will you switch? Have any other info on the Google phone?
I don’t believe it.
Wonderbread57,
Which part? lol
I know for a fact Google has purchased switches (what is required for them to route phone calls) all over the country and that Google Voice has the capability to take a phone call from the phone convert it to VoIP and send it to their switch which could inturn then send it to any phone company they wanted…
kinda hard to belive if they ever make there own towers and ect. i would most defenatly switch with them if they ever do=)
This does not surprise me in the least. Google is scary huge and can do anything they want to. I think that this would be pretty sweet. However, I might be a little reluctant at first to purchase this at first being that it is a new technology? Because much like the G1, it was the first of its kind and now they have done drastic improvements in the Android development and Google operated phones. I have a G1 and have upgraded it until my hearts desire through your site, but there is only so much that I can do.
With all the new phones that continue to come out, that I salivate looking at, technology comes out at fast rates, which quickly makes your new purchase an old one. My assumption is that these big companies like Google have technologies that are already produced but keep a tight lip on it to slowly integrate into the general population, to create demand. And well, with people like us who love technology, are the first ones to make them richer. No matter, I love Google and appreciate there contrabutions. Look forward to more endless possiblities.
Thanks for the news Unlockr!
Sincerely,
Nick
I should have bought google’s stock.
Google bought Gizmo5 so sure they are building up some more infrastructure around a scalable VoIP network but this service would be targeted at users with their own internet connection, primarily home users and mobile users who don’t want to use their carrier minutes. I don’t see them pushing it as a carrier-free mobile phone all-in-one product, at least not for a year or so. I really think the new HTC device (more info plz etc) is being confused for the gPhone. Lots of overlap among gPhone and Passion stories over the past months.
Wonderbread57,
I agree completely, I dont think they would do a carrier free solution, but Im betting that it will end up there at some point (after a year for sure).
i read the article on yahoo.com…. and guys its true i even saw one of the concept phones the plan to use and also signed a contract with htc to manufacture thier phone using the latest version on google… so there will be the first company to have a phone and control everything that the phone can does LOL.. wat kind of dictatorship is that LOL
Zayyad: Thanks a lot for the links… That really helped… sarc.
Now.. How is it that the gPhone is gonna be able to be a VoIP device..
O, yeah… It’s all about the white space…
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/fcc-starts-up-white-spaces-database-devices-now-inevitable/
Depending how dependable it ends up being… Say goodbye to all the carriers… But hello to constant GPS tracking by Google and the Feds… But don’t they already do that to us that have ever had a flu shot…lol
Humn… Hope Motorola is not the hardware maker for the gPhone…. But I also wonder if the gPhone might have multiple versions from multiple manuf.
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/FCC-Moves-Forward-on-White-Spaces-477131/
“The FCC began testing white space devices with mixed results in January 2008 using a prototype device supplied by Microsoft. By July, the agency moved the tests outdoors using devices from Motorola, ”
Wonder if the regular cell network one might be by HTC & the White Space one from Motorola…
I would prefer HTC all the way..
Posted earlier by Anonimac… Trying to move the discussion here since discussion is no longer on the front page…
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Anonimac Says:
December 5th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
All kinds of rumors now all of a sudden, with the latest being that the Passion is heading to T-Mobile first in early January.
Seems that this is something to keep an eye on as a poster promises to reveal entire 2010 line up with pics, brochures, specs, etc…enjoy!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=573534&page=4
Wow i cant wait to see what Google has in store for us. i believe that this will be something huge and its going to have a great impact on the world of today. keep us posted when you get more information unlockr
Google should look into Clear, the new internet service! there obviously rising fast in internet service and set up data towers in almost every major city! plus since they promote high speed wireless internet and are set up pretty good so far i dont think it would be a bad idea!!!!!! go google!!!!!!