Google spending big bucks on mobile plans |
While Google might not ever really get into the hardware game directly with their own Google phone, according to the WSJ they are definitely putting a fair amount of time and money in that specific direction. According to the report, Google has put not millions but hundreds of millions of dollars into its cell phone project.
Google has worked on developing mobile phone prototypes and worked out specifications with manufactures like LG to likely come up with a partnership in providing a mobile device that takes advantage of Google applications and of course their advertising. Google already has a likely partner in AT&T for the US market but resources have said that they’ve also had talks with Verizon Wireless who decided not to integrate with Google due to the companies demands on advertising revenue-sharing.
Showing ads on mobile devices isn’t a huge market yet, but it should be no surprise to anyone that this will be changing with constantly improving technologies in connecting and showing media on more and more mobile devices. Google has stated that they are indeed “partnering with carriers, manufacturers, and content providers around the world,” but admitted no plans to actually build their own phone.
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Why in the world would they partner with a monopolizing company if they are trying to evolve the wireless information market. At&t, verizon, nextel, t-mobile will pigeon hole their new/current subscribers into another round of contract signings. Has no one learned from the innovative thinking of Virgin mobile? Slowly but surely I am seeing parents gradually send their money in the direction of Mr. Branson’s company. The idea that we are still limited in connectivity and despite the fact that we own the intellectual property (as in the actual phone you purchased) and still cannot do as we choose with devices shows the lack of market freedom in the u.s wireless market. Expansion for the consumer is the next turn that these up and coming companies should look into. Google has been a brand founded and loved for it’s freedom and anti stance of structured empires. Cross platform has been the mantra of this little engine that could, it would really hurt them on a P.R. level to be seen as another evil empire (microsoft and sadly to say my favorite of the giants “apple). Submitting their loyalist to another bout of dissapointment in the evolution of networking solutions is going to definitely hurt them.
kayser9, you couldn’t have said it better.
not so fast, Mr. Spacey. If there’s onhe thing I’ve learned by observing Mssrs. Brin & Page it’s their ability to hew to their values no matter what. My guess is they will end up co-opting the Telcos & Cablecos, rather than the other way around.
Greed makes one stupid and inconsistent; principle has exactly the opposite effect.
Astute observation though.
Unfortunately, Google’s “principles” only go so far, as we’ve seen in their decision to help China censor internet results.
But as far as the phone goes, isn’t Google’s plan to build a nation-wide wifi network, and isn’t it possible that the bandwidth would be enough to then support the phone? That I’d like to see.
i hate when the coolest of phones dont go with my network. like the iphone and now the google phone dont go with verisone its so stupid