Google's wireless plans are coming in two weeks (for real this time)
Google will roll out its long-awaited, over reported, widely guessed about wireless plans in about two weeks.
Sound familiar? Well it is. I've been reading blog posts about Google's wireless plans for months. And each time these plans were due in about two weeks time. Often there was some Gphone contraption involved.
This time, however, it's the Wall Street Journal reporting about Google's wireless plans, which were rumored to be unveiled at the company's analyst meeting last week. Before that these plans were rumored to be mentioned on Google's earnings conference call. Before that...well you get the idea. It's easy to be a bit skeptical--although something is clearly brewing.
The Journal reports:
Within the next two weeks, Google is expected to announce advanced software and services that would allow handset makers to bring Google-powered phones to market by the middle of next year, people familiar with the situation say. In recent months Google has approached several U.S. and foreign handset manufacturers about the idea of building phones tailored to Google software, with Taiwan's HTC Corp. and South Korea's LG Electronics Inc. mentioned in the industry as potential contenders. Google is also seeking partnerships with wireless operators. In the U.S., it has the most traction with Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA, while in Europe it is pursuing relationships with France Télécom's Orange SA and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.'s 3 U.K., people familiar with the matter say. A Google spokeswoman declined to comment.
As far as tie-ups go. T-Mobile is a natural choice in the U.S. and perhaps Sprint. Verizon and AT&T will scoff at Google's wireless Trojan horse.
The Google phones are supposed to tie together Google Maps, YouTube and Gmail in a nice mobile operating system, which would be open to developers.
Hey, I'm all for it. Free those phones. But three months of waiting for Google's wireless plans (all in two week chunks) means I'll believe it when I see it.