As all the hype and rumours have stopped since the Apple iPhone was released, what's the next target for the industry speculators? Google of course. A Gphone is looking more of a certainty.
As we reported last year, Google have supposedly been in talks with Orange about launching a possible Google branded phone with integrated internet surfing, email, and other Google functionality.
Recent news suggests that the idea may have moved on to a possible working concept model to come out of their own engineering labs.
A vacancy listed on Google's on jobs board says:
"Google organizes information and makes it accessible and useful. To improve accessibility, Google is experimenting with a few wireless communications systems including some completely novel concepts. We are building a small team of top-notch Logic Designers and Analog Designers aimed at nothing less than making the entire world's information accessible from anywhere for free."
Requirements for the role are listed as "Electrical Engineering or related technical degree. First-rate Analog Designer with more than 5 years experience. Extensive circuit modeling and analysis experience.
Excellent programming skills. Experience with switching power supply design a plus. Ham radio license a plus."
However, as with all good conspiracies, there are other rumours doing the rounds that conflict with this.
A member of an internet survey was this week presented with a possible Google phone, but this one would be designed by Samsung.
The supposed Google/Samsung handset would include a large screen, QWERTY keyboard, a 2 megapixel camera, 3G, WiFi and other Google services like Search, Gmail, Maps, Blogger. The services would be available for a monthly Internet fee. Prices have even been bantered around, £50 with a new 2 year contract, or £199 sim-free.
Whoever/whatever you believe it would seem that a Google phone will surface in time.
Google's co-founder Larry Page, said last year, that a Google brand phone would make sense because of the company's presence in mobile Internet. "We are bringing more of our products to mobile phone users. Since there are at least twice as many mobile phones than PCs in use globally, and mobile usage is growing faster than PCs, we want to make Google available in a device-independent way".
As with the iPhone, we have to wait and see (but it doesn't stop us talking about it beforehand).
Recent news suggests that the idea may have moved on to a possible working concept model to come out of their own engineering labs.
A vacancy listed on Google's on jobs board says:
"Google organizes information and makes it accessible and useful. To improve accessibility, Google is experimenting with a few wireless communications systems including some completely novel concepts. We are building a small team of top-notch Logic Designers and Analog Designers aimed at nothing less than making the entire world's information accessible from anywhere for free."
Requirements for the role are listed as "Electrical Engineering or related technical degree. First-rate Analog Designer with more than 5 years experience. Extensive circuit modeling and analysis experience.
Excellent programming skills. Experience with switching power supply design a plus. Ham radio license a plus."
However, as with all good conspiracies, there are other rumours doing the rounds that conflict with this.
A member of an internet survey was this week presented with a possible Google phone, but this one would be designed by Samsung.
The supposed Google/Samsung handset would include a large screen, QWERTY keyboard, a 2 megapixel camera, 3G, WiFi and other Google services like Search, Gmail, Maps, Blogger. The services would be available for a monthly Internet fee. Prices have even been bantered around, £50 with a new 2 year contract, or £199 sim-free.
Whoever/whatever you believe it would seem that a Google phone will surface in time.
Google's co-founder Larry Page, said last year, that a Google brand phone would make sense because of the company's presence in mobile Internet. "We are bringing more of our products to mobile phone users. Since there are at least twice as many mobile phones than PCs in use globally, and mobile usage is growing faster than PCs, we want to make Google available in a device-independent way".
As with the iPhone, we have to wait and see (but it doesn't stop us talking about it beforehand).