The 'real' Google phone is coming!

While Google said that it ‘cannot share specific product details’ the handset is widely believed to have been built by HTC to a Google design. Other reports suggest the handset is a variation of the HTC Passion smartphone.

Until recently Google has long denied that it intends to sell its own phone, despite, long time rumours that it would release a so-called G-Phone. However The Wall Street Journal  has reported that Google will release a phone early this year, which will be called the Nexus One.

Taking a leaf out of Apple’s book, Google has created ‘virtually the entire software experience behind the phone from the applications that run on it, to the look and feel of each screen,’ according the Journal.

The Journal also asserted that Google intends to sell its phone unlocked and directly to consumers, bypassing the networks. However this could make the Google phone an expensive as an upfront purchase as it would not benefit from network subsidies.

On the other hand Google might sell its phone at a loss and hope to recoup money from other sources like sales of apps, or mobile related advertising and services.

A Google handset, running innovative applications like Google Voice, offering cut price mobile telephony could prove very attractive to consumers.

A Google phone would confirm what industry insiders’ assertions that the company has become frustrated by the slow progress of third party Android handsets in the smartphone market, especially in Europe where market share remains below 5%. Google has also been vexed by third party handset vendors’ practice of customising Android for their hardware, so that there is no unified Android  look and feel. Also the Android codebase has been fractured so that incompatibilities have emerged between platforms.