Google is in the final stage of discussion with some of the Verizon to launch its Gphones, an area it views as key to future growth asit will be fully integrated with as platform (more mobile ads naturally). There will be a few special apps that will make this phone uniquely different from others as these phones will have software embedded. The rumors are HTC and LG will the first two companies that will provide the hardware. Skype will also joining the party with its 'white phone' which will not be sold in the US. I don't know if there's plan to integrate that with PayPal (both owned by eBya) so it becomes a mobile wallet. That could be interesting but probably won't take off in the US.
Many have questions on the 700Mhz spectrum that will potentially open up to allow any device to connect to networks. And there will no doubt plenty of fights on who brand what, particularly the services that associated with the phones. Google will take an open approach and try to get developers to write tosoftware. If it is really open source and the mobile-phone manufacturers will adopt it. Google isn't just looking to expand its ad monetization technology to new platforms (it is still one of the key reasons), but want to shake up the telecommunications industry and its "walled garden" approach that limits what handsets, carriers, and services consumers can use. Google believes the open-source approach, or open net approach to life, is antithetical to the way carriers see the world.
Going back to 2005, Google filed a patent on a groundbreaking mobile application. Just imagine that you are planning a night out in NYC. At 6pm Google could predict you are looking for a restaurant and, given your history of looking for directions to a Japanese/Italian fusion restaurant or suggest entrée and deserts. At 9pm your Gphone would suggest a few places nearby that you can go for a few drinks. At 11.30pm Google again sees that you have a 9am meeting the next day and suggest it is time to hit the hotel and pushes a number for a cab. This patent makes a lot of sense because Google has the info for all this - if there’s enough data and enough processing power to organize the data - Google probably could predict 60% of the searches we make, especially those on a mobile device (your location can easily helps to provide context for predictive searches).
The Google Phone won't be available before Mayf 2008, it is going to provide a stark contrast to the approaches of both Apple and Microsoft take. Google plans to give away its software to hand-set makers and then use the Google Phone's openness as an invitation for software developers and content distributors to design applications for it. Another platofrm play.
So forget you iPhone, wait 8months and you will a have phone with a lots of cool apps guaranteed. But it will not be something that is as sexy as and unique as an iPhone for sure. Keep both.
