GPhone? Blogs abuzz, Google silent

Specialised blogs are abuzz this week with rumours that Internet giant Google will soon launch the 8220;Google Phone8221; or 8220;GPhone,8221; a cheap mobile phone equipped with Google8217;s operating system. High-tech product specialist Engadget said a Google announcement would come next week, adding that a Google operating system would be tailor-made for the new cell phone.

According to another blog, CrunchGear, 8220;Google is currently assessing over twenty of Taiwan8217;s HTC models8221; and plans to launch its cell phone between January and March of 2008. Photographs of Google8217;s touch-screen handset are already on the Internet, and according to Rizzn.com, it will cost a mere 100 Rs 4,000.

CrunchGear said the HTC/Google phone would have Google Talk enabled, allowing users to make free Internet phone calls. The blog said the Google phone will not only be able to surf the net but also will include 8220;special version of Google Maps, compatible with built-in GPS, and compatibility with Gmail, Google8217;s e-mail service8221;.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Google has already shown its prototype to US companies AT038;T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, making it seem clear the Google Phone8217;s launch will definitely take place in the US.