Google Phone Not A Phone, But an Operating System?

[Adama D. Brown]

According to a new report, the allegedly in-development Google Phone isn't a phone at all, but a mobile operating system designed to compete with Microsoft's Windows Mobile offering.

The International Herald Tribune cites "industry executives familiar with the project" as saying that Google's phone inititive is actually a full scale OS, based on Linux, and designed to be offered to phone manufacturers free of charge. Google would then make its money through using the OS to deploy targeted mobile advertising, much the way that their search engine works.

The report goes on to say that part of Google's strategy is to make their operating system open-source, in an attempt to undercut Microsoft and "take the economics out of the Windows Mobile business," according to an anonymous source described as an industry executive whose company has ties to Google.

Google: No Official Position

Despite the dozens of rumors surrounding it, Google still has little public position on their phone plans, other than saying that mobile phones presented a large growth opportunity and that Google has significant investment in mobile services.

Related Articles:

• Google Phone May -- Or May Not -- Have 3G
• Google May Be Prepping Smartphone with Free Service

Via IHT

 

[Antoine Wright]

Makes more sense for Google. No real need for them to do another OS, and the carrier troubles for cellular ones. Better to do software, probably Java, and maybe later Flash Lite 3 and call it a day. They have already shown that they can knock out some top notch software (wish they would have done a browser for PalmOS considering GoogleMaps). The key is making sure that whatever they make is not locked out by carriers for cellular devices, and makes non-cellular wireless devices just as accessible on the go.

Oh, and they just bought Jaiku which has a mobile app for Symbian and one in development that's java. Considering the integration Jaiku does with mobile device's phonebooks, one would think that Google is right on track for extremely targeted ads and search products.

[r0k]

This afternoon, I'm a little annoyed with Google's targeted ads. As I was reading an email from my son's high school guidance counselor in Gmail, an ad link appeared for a military boarding school for troubled youth. Somebody's ad-bot sensitivity is turned up a little too high.

I'm just saying I'm not sure I want google reading my sms and having access to my phone call records in addition to all my email.

[Adama D. Brown]

I sometimes find the associations Google's ads make to be just a tad bit creepy. The sort of things that make you think, why do they associate this page with that ad? One of many reasons that I try to block as much advertising as I can.

[Genjinaro]

I think google should develop phones through partners (i.e: Samsung, I-mate, HTC etc.) & keep them under Google once they win the 700mhz band bid.

I'd love the idea of:

Google plan > Google phone > Google OS

I'd really look forward to a Google Docs mobile & online sync style with a Google PDA phone.

Just think,

Syncing Google with your phone, desktop & online account with all of your google apps, like.

Mail (all feilds)
Reader
Maps
Calendar
Home page (ala Today screen esc)
Docs, Sheet, and Presentation

Man my hopes are high right now, "......." I hope I don't trip over anything.

[dmccunney]

I sometimes find the associations Google's ads make to be just a tad bit creepy. The sort of things that make you think, why do they associate this page with that ad? One of many reasons that I try to block as much advertising as I can.

They use the same technology they use in searching to make the ad associations. It operates off of key words, and has the same order of problem as a spell checker: the spell checker can tell you the word is correctly spelled, but can't tell you it's the wrong word to use in that context.

Personally, I find the Google ads either appropriate or delightfully whimsical. I have yet to see one I felt was creepy. I could block them easily, but don't bother. They're unobtrusive, and I don't have to click on them.

I use Firefox, but never bothered with things like AdBlock Plus. Ad blocking CSS rules do fine. I don't want to block all ads: I just want to make some ad heavy pages readable. (And in fact, I resorted to the CSS rules in the first place for FreewarePalm... )
______
Dennis

[Hook]

I sometimes find the associations Google's ads make to be just a tad bit creepy. The sort of things that make you think, why do they associate this page with that ad? One of many reasons that I try to block as much advertising as I can.

But I'd miss all those great recipes for preparing Spam every time I visit my Gmail SPAM folder.

[dmccunney]

This afternoon, I'm a little annoyed with Google's targeted ads. As I was reading an email from my son's high school guidance counselor in Gmail, an ad link appeared for a military boarding school for troubled youth. Somebody's ad-bot sensitivity is turned up a little too high.

Nope. They just use their search technology to try to find ads related to what you are reading. Sometimes they are dead on, and sometimes wide of the mark. The search technology uses keywords but is ignorant of context.

I'm just saying I'm not sure I want google reading my sms and having access to my phone call records in addition to all my email.

Google is pretty fussy about what they access, and even fussier about making sure you understand what they do and don't look at.

I very much doubt they will access your call records. People get really touchy about privacy, and doing that would trigger a firestorm of protest.
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Dennis

[dmccunney]

But I'd miss all those great recipes for preparing Spam every time I visit my Gmail SPAM folder.

I've seen them all, alas. We need more good recipes for preparing spam.

(The best way is cooked in a dutch oven over a campfire, and topped with pineapple slices, but that's not always a convenient option... )
______
Dennis

[TarekAHF]

I think this is a good idea. Google is a great company, and they are smart. I am sure they will do the right thing.