Monday, 26 March 2007

The Google Phone - To Be or Not To Be?

Google Inc. is developing software to run services on cell phones instead of the recent speculations that it is working towards building its own phone said analysts.

According to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster Google appears to be building software for Web search on cell phones and location-finding services to collaborate with Apple Inc.'s iPhone and other cell phones.

"We believe Google is working with, not against, Apple in the mobile world," Munster said.

In recent months, various reports have emerged describing how Web search leader Google could be developing a low cost, Internet-connected mobile dubbed as the "Gphone" that features color and a wide-screen design.

A Google spokesperson commented that Google remains zoned in on developing applications and establishing partnerships with industry leaders to develop innovative services for users worldwide.

This is not the first time that speculation about Google products has been false. What was widely reported as Google building its own line of personal computers over a year ago was in fact a set of free software programs designed to ease the use of existing Windows PCs.

The past year has seen Google diversifying beyond computers to bring Web search, e-mail, mapping and other Internet services to millions of phone browsers worldwide.