Google Phone, Manufactured by HTC and Sold by Orange?

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1973885,00.html' target='_blank'>http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1973885,00.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Google is on the move. The internet giant has held talks with Orange, the mobile phone operator, about a multi-billion-dollar partnership to create a 'Google phone' which makes it easy to search the web wherever you are. The collaboration between two of the most powerful brands in technology is seen as a potential catalyst for making internet use of mobile phones as natural as on desktop computers and laptops. Executives from Orange flew to Silicon Valley in California for a meeting at Google's headquarters, or 'Googleplex', to hold preliminary discussions about a joint deal. The companies believe that they have an affinity as brands that are perceived as both 'positive' and 'innovative'. Their plans centre on a branded Google phone, which would probably also carry Orange's logo. The device would not be revolutionary: manufactured by HTC, a Taiwanese firm specialising in smart phones and Personal Data Assistants (PDAs), it might have a screen similar to a video iPod. But it would have built-in Google software which would dramatically improve on the slow and cumbersome experience of surfing the web from a mobile handset."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-dec2006-googlephone.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />We know that Google is interested in having access to our mobile phones, and we know that the best way for them to find out and control our mobile life-style is to have control of the operating system running on our mobile phones. Google has already acquired more than a couple of companies that specialize in the mobile space, but this is the first significant news (or possibly rumour) that we have heard about its plans to market a product. The thing that has me stunned is that HTC is closely associated with Microsoft and has been held responsible for the success of Windows Mobile phone edition devices. 8O The same is somewhat true about Orange, they were the early adopters of the Windows Mobile Smartphones. Recently <a href="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13095">Steve Ballmer</a> was commenting on how he is not worried about the Apple iPhone and how Windows Mobile has more market share compared to the BlackBerry or Palm. Looks like things are about to change; the future may not be as comfortable for Windows Mobile as Steve wants us to believe. What are your thoughts?

[Kris Kumar]

Both Arne Hess over at the::unwired (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/theunwired/~3/62765818/) and engadget mobile (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadgetmobile/~3/62870206/) are speculating that since Orange and HTC are involved in this Google Phone venture, it is possible that Google's phone could be running on Windows Mobile with special Google software to enable search, location based services and other stuff that Google does really well.

If Google were to go with Windows Mobile OS, then would benefit more if they make the software available to all the Windows Mobile users, instead of just sticking with one carrier or manufacturer. That is why I think the phone will have a more proprietary software and hardware.

The only reason why I would think they would want to partner with one carrier (at launch) "and stick with a HTC Windows Mobile phone" is to deliver on the promise of faster surfing/search and Google services; this I believe can be achieved by having a massive array of Google servers that cache the search data and services right on the Orange phone data network. I remember reading about this someplace (will have to dig up the article).

[Mike Temporale]

Wow, that's pretty interesting. I don't know if Google would go for WinMo. It seems like that would go against what google stands for. Or at least what people expect of google.

I think that using WinMo would be a wise move, but I don't think Google would do that.

[saru7755]

I think that using WinMo would be a wise move.

same here, but even if they don't go with Windows Mobile, i don't see this will effect the market share much, all those ppl got used to WM wont trade it for a new OS that does not have much s/w's &amp; stuff, besides WM users know there way around searching &amp; stuff with whats offered at this moment.. at least for me. :)