"affordable" and "internet enabled phone" don't go together. At least not under the current system. Google could change that. What about an advertisement supported smart phone. The phone service would always know where the phone is so Google could sell add space and tell their customers they will only show the ads to people within X miles of your location who are doing a search for something related to your bussines. That is VERY targeted, so they could charge a lot for the ad space. If Google could sell just one ad for 25 cents per day per phone they'd do well
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Google Mobile Phone in the Works?
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Who's to say that this device wouldn't work? Who's to say Google would be creating this purely for money? Yes, we know there are shareholders to consider with them these days, but perhaps they are trying to push forward a segment of the market they feel has stagnated, if indeed it ever really existed.
Are Apple creating the iPhone for the sake of creation or for money? Did Microsoft ditch the now stable XP and push the so far unstable Vista because it meant more money for them or a better experience long term for the user? Arguments could be had for everything released being at least partly about money, unless of course it was completely free. Google offer many great services for free and rely on ad revenue, it appears they follow a similar business model with this and make little, if anything on the device, but have lots of ads on there to raise the cash. I'm willing to give them the benefit of doubt until more concrete evidence is available.
A majority of companies would take advantage of their position if they could get away with it.. yes, even Apple ( actually, that would be frightening IMO ).
We've seen this time and time again, IBM, microsoft, AT&T, Rogers to name a few.
Underdogs do perform well, because they need to.
We've seen this time and time again, IBM, microsoft, AT&T, Rogers to name a few.
Underdogs do perform well, because they need to.
Yeah, um, Apple and Google working together sounds like a slightly good idea. Just maybe. I can't believe that Google wouldn't partner with Apple to do this. They were at the last keynote, were they not? Besides, the cell phone market is huge and each company could provide something different. It is not like the two companies dont mesh well together in terms of objectives, beliefs, and competitors.
The exclusivity between Apple and AT&T/Cingular may be more than two years. I have seen news reports that the contract is for 2-5 years.
Hmmm...
I'm haveing a hard time trying to picture a lowcost phone by Google for the masses who don't have a computer just so they could use Google.
everyone make one!
I found the following list of other companies who are also making a phone:
yahoo
myspace
avid
lipton
bazooka
adobe
hell, why not EVERYONE make a phone. hehe seems to be the trend
I found the following list of other companies who are also making a phone:
yahoo
myspace
avid
lipton
bazooka
adobe
hell, why not EVERYONE make a phone. hehe seems to be the trend
That's the most well thought post so far. Use Google as your Telco and Apple as your Phone Supplier. The services combined offer more than any phone provider, if they get the infrastructure in place and lit.
Just a few random thoughts and WAGs (wild *ss guesses). I invite everyone to nitpick these because this seems sort of obvious to me but I have yet to see anyone openly speculating along these lines.
Some points to consider:
* Apple is entering the home electronics (phone and TV) markets, both with products that seem very powerful but seem to have some odd restrictions that might hint at more to come.
* Apple has settled with Cingular as their provider despite a vague sense of uneasiness between the two companies. Apple made big demands on Cingular that Verizon refused to go along with.
* Google has been buying up dark fiber lines with no apparent explanation.
* Google has openly looked into the IPTV market and online video.
* Google has openly looked into providing internet access.
* Google appears to have some interest in phones despite having no ability to produce the hardware themselves.
* Apple has been shopping around for more corporate space in various locations.
* Google and Apple have cross paths in some curious ways lately, both admitting that they are working on projects together.
Who thinks there's a chance that Apple and Google are laying the groundwork to (at some point in the future) cut out all the middle men involved in phone, video and internet service for mobile devices? It would be a brilliant business maneuver and would alleviate a lot of what people dislike about the iPhone: that it is tied to Cingular (or any traditional phone or net service provider.)
I could see this being an enormous success. People are fed up with phone service as it now exists (I know I am!) People are fed up with exorbitant fees and lousy service. Both Apple and Google seem to have the same philosophy when it comes to customers, and it's about 180-degrees opposite what you get from Cingular and Verizon and other phone service providers.
So, what kind of holes can you all poke in this theory?
(Edit... anonicon, I seriously did not see your post before posting this! Glad to see other are actually thinking along these lines.)
Some points to consider:
* Apple is entering the home electronics (phone and TV) markets, both with products that seem very powerful but seem to have some odd restrictions that might hint at more to come.
* Apple has settled with Cingular as their provider despite a vague sense of uneasiness between the two companies. Apple made big demands on Cingular that Verizon refused to go along with.
* Google has been buying up dark fiber lines with no apparent explanation.
* Google has openly looked into the IPTV market and online video.
* Google has openly looked into providing internet access.
* Google appears to have some interest in phones despite having no ability to produce the hardware themselves.
* Apple has been shopping around for more corporate space in various locations.
* Google and Apple have cross paths in some curious ways lately, both admitting that they are working on projects together.
Who thinks there's a chance that Apple and Google are laying the groundwork to (at some point in the future) cut out all the middle men involved in phone, video and internet service for mobile devices? It would be a brilliant business maneuver and would alleviate a lot of what people dislike about the iPhone: that it is tied to Cingular (or any traditional phone or net service provider.)
I could see this being an enormous success. People are fed up with phone service as it now exists (I know I am!) People are fed up with exorbitant fees and lousy service. Both Apple and Google seem to have the same philosophy when it comes to customers, and it's about 180-degrees opposite what you get from Cingular and Verizon and other phone service providers.
So, what kind of holes can you all poke in this theory?
(Edit... anonicon, I seriously did not see your post before posting this! Glad to see other are actually thinking along these lines.)
I don't think it even needs to be ad subsidized to be affordable. Bear in mind that people have a tendency to quote the highest rates for access when making arguments against mobile data, but in practice data rates are low and getting lower. The US's T-Mobile has all-you-can-eat TCP/IP as a $7 bolt-on to their regular plans, and standalone data for $30, for example. My recollection is that Sprint have something similar. Verizon and Cingular do not, but Verizon and Cingular are not the only two mobile phone carriers in the world.
I think there's no reason why a low cost (<$200 without subsidy) Internet enabled EDGE cellphone similar to a stripped down 770/N800 couldn't be created. Nokia and Motorola both make budget GSM phones for less than $50, and a low-end PDA costs $100. Extrapolate from that, and you've got quite a lot of room for a company like Google to work, even if they restrict themselves to using off-the-shelf hardware.
And unlike Apple and the iPhone, this will help Google's business, not undermine anything they're currently doing. All it does is promote access to Google.
I wish them luck...
You mean like this hardware? How about a cheaper version of the iPhone with the multi-touch technology but a 1 GB memory chip instead of the 4 GB & 8 GB?
I welcome Google entering the cell marketplace.
The Apple phone is a luxury item. If Google can do it more cheaply -- and really, anybody can and everybody should -- then that's great.
In a short while, the market will be flooded with non-boutique, commodity touchscreen phones. Much more than a speculative Google entrant is going to race Apple for this market segment.
The Apple phone is a luxury item. If Google can do it more cheaply -- and really, anybody can and everybody should -- then that's great.
In a short while, the market will be flooded with non-boutique, commodity touchscreen phones. Much more than a speculative Google entrant is going to race Apple for this market segment.
Am I the only one who thinks "Dark Fiber" (yes, I do know what it means) is the creepiest tech-related term ever?
yeah, sounds like x-men/matrix/stephen king-ish stuff...something Bill Gates et al should be investing in and building out. however, "virgin fiber" or "raw fiber" don't really sound that pure and clean either.
You mean like this hardware? How about a cheaper version of the iPhone with the multi-touch technology but a 1 GB memory chip instead of the 4 GB & 8 GB?
yes, exactly like that!! :-D
I'd be surprised if many people anywhere knew that Google have made hardware. Thanks for the pic.
Does anyone plan on cluing the rest of us in on what this box does?
It may look like a Barbie accessory, but I'm guessing that it isn't.
First off all, Google does not manufacture this...
Secondly, everyone around here needs to get a clue.
This is a research project. Google is going to use the LEARNING from this project to drive other projects. This may involve lightweight java applications used to help them continue to drive their search and advertising business.
Reading some of these posts, it seems like people would seriously believe Google is about to launch a phone product. This will...um, how do I make this clear, NEVER HAPPEN
Google has many projects in their research dept that do not specifically have anything to do with what they want to focus their business around. However, if they want to pre-innovate in the mobility space, they need to work in their own sandbox, not in Microsofts
First off all, Google does not manufacture this...
Secondly, everyone around here needs to get a clue.
This is a research project. Google is going to use the LEARNING from this project to drive other projects. This may involve lightweight java applications used to help them continue to drive their search and advertising business.
Reading some of these posts, it seems like people would seriously believe Google is about to launch a phone product. This will...um, how do I make this clear, NEVER HAPPEN
Google has many projects in their research dept that do not specifically have anything to do with what they want to focus their business around. However, if they want to pre-innovate in the mobility space, they need to work in their own sandbox, not in Microsofts
I wouldn't say "never happen", but you are right about everything else... but to be honest, you guys are several days late on this one... http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/03/15/google-exec-confirms-phone-in-the-labs/
Or a related product. Apple may be exclusive with cingular for cellular phones, but that doesn't mean it can't offer other non-cellular phones.
Exactly. However, the cellular component of the iPhone is the REALLY CHEAP part.
Google has been launching citywide wifi access in several cities. Marketing their phone to ONLY those cities would be quite doable, especially if the phone switches to your own home & work wifi when you are there.
That said.. who knows what Google plans. I do think they will want a phone that has integrated google maps & web browsing.