BillWixted’s Blog

HTC phone with Android

Rumor has it that Google employees are currently testing an all-Google cell phone that will be rolled out soon. Apparently, this device will be made available to the public without a contract that binds the user to a specific service carrier like AT&T or Verizon.

This would represent a big change in the way things are done here in the US, but is more like how things work in Europe. Currently, if you want a specific brand of cellphone (iPhone for example) you may not be able to use it with your current carrier. The way most people purchase cell phones is by signing up for a multi-year contract with a carrier who then subsidizes the purchase of the cell phone itself for you by knocking a few hundred dollars off of the factory price. A Google phone that is released to the general public would upend that model.

It would also put the Apple iPhone squarely into Google’s crosshairs. Unlike most cell phones, the iPhone is a seamless combination of hardware and software designed by the same company. A Google phone would be similar in this respect. The benefits for the consumer is generally a better all-around user experience.

People who make cell phone hardware however may not be too happy since Google will be cutting them out of a piece of the action. Will they still be as eager to build cell phones that run Google’s Android operating system? Maybe not.

The carriers may not be too thrilled either since they rely on their handset offerings to differentiate themselves from one another. If all handsets eventually work with every carrier then they will have to compete solely in other areas like quality of service and coverage.

A Google phone, like Chrome OS,  fits nicely into their overall strategy for world domination. Google wants to remove the barriers (i.e., Microsoft and Apple software and hardware) between you and their online services. What better way to do that than by giving you a Google phone to go with your Google netbook. Can a Google desktop be too far behind? Undoubtedly. You heard it here first.

Tags: Google phone

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 2:34 pm and is filed under Handheld Devices. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.