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Exec Confirms Google Phone
cyberianpan writes "The head of Google in Spain and Portugal has confirmed that Google is working on a mobile phone. "Some of the time the engineers are dedicated to developing a mobile phone,"
This could be the 20% free time development but publicizing that would be stupid. Obviously this phone could link in with Google Earth/Maps... it is a marketers dream for targeted advertising."
I for one welcome our new mobile overlords
why can't the phone they're working on be the iphone? also, i wouldn't say the "head of google in portugal" making an off-handed comment really counts as "publicizing" it.
why can't the phone they're working on be the iphone?
I believe that name is taken.
"... it is a marketers dream for targeted advertising."
How is that different than other phones? I've heard lots of bells and whistles over the years about phones being a portal to direct advertising and that I'd get ads pushed to my phone constantly and, at least myself and my circle of contacts, it's. just. not. happening.
I don't see what would make Google phone more viable for direct marketing than iPhone or a regular cell that can run Google Maps mobile on it already.
I'd be more concerned with a Google phone dropping calls when you start talking about stuff the Chinese government would consider corrupting influences on society.
More Twoson than Cupertino
The Google executive in question disappeared from the surface of the Earth.
The first rule of the Googleplex is: you don't talk about the Googleplex.
The second rule of the Googleplex is: you DON'T TALK about the Googleplex. Byotch.
(Or course this is said tongue-in-cheek)...
The right to offend is far more important than the right not to be offended. (Rowan Atkinson)
Hopefully it won't be a DRM infested, crippled piece of junk like the iPhone.
"... it is a marketers dream for targeted advertising."
Yeah. Because the ability to have people send you more unwanted advertising is a feature everyone looks for when buying a new phone.
Does this mean that, in an unfamiliar town, I can just type "pizza," hit "I Feel Lucky," and be connected with the most popular pizza joint in town based on call volume?
Really, I'm not being entirely sarcastic here. I wind up in strange places, and this feature would be more helpful than calling 411. Now, how to implement...
Tags != Comments, and -1 (Troll) != -1 (I Would Respond Angrily To This Poster So They Must Be Trolling)
Given the features google has already implemented in their search engine, can we expect the phone to automatically correct our typos so we never dial a wrong number?
...if they change "I Feel Lucky" to "I Want to Get Lucky".
GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network
If it had GPS, it could know where you are, and display advertisements accordingly. This could just be the splash screen on your phone. Also, you could press "Food" or enter "pizza" and it would show you restaurants in the area, maybe even give you directions. Maybe you could even set it to ring a certain way when you're near a good restaurant.
Tying you to their other products (Gmail, Picasa) will also bring them ad revenue. It could also legitimate Google's services for the Blackberry crowd. I think that like iPhone for Apple, this would fill the gap for Google's PDA.
And I imagine contact information is worth a lot to them. Who's in your address book, who you're calling, when you call people, when you're phone is on/off, etc. Not to mention if there's GPS, they'd know where you go during the day.
I wouldn't get one, but then I'm one of those weirdos who just wants a phone to make phone calls.
Best Slashdot Co
the Google Phone will be a BlackBerry-like device running C++ at the core with an operating system bootstrap and optimized Java and that it would offer voice over Internet Protocol.
What does this actually mean? Why would it be running C++ at the core? Doesn't it make more sense to run native machine code? What devices have an OS but no bootstrap? How do you get them to start? Did they consider pessimised Java, but decided that optimised would be more efficient?
(other than the fact it's about Google)
It didn't come from Larry Page and Sergey Brin or anybody like that. For all we know, this statement may just be some sort of FUD meant to scare people who put out other smart phones (Read: Microsoft, Palm, etc.).
I'll wait for some sort of "official" announcement.
This is my opinion. To make sure you don't steal it, it's covered by the DMCA.
I've got Google maps on my phone - does not replace the GPS but useful in emergency. Perhaps the real interest here is the growing development of applications based around the modern cellphone's unique features: 1. Nearly everyone has at least one, (increasingly in 'third world' countries too), and carries it all the time. 2. It's increasingly a computer, (mail, calendar..) and media-player as well as a communications device. 3. It can be located, (but this is illegal in most countries). Today, people are watching TV on their phones and using them as payment devices. Organisations are buying tracking information from the phone companies (individual's information supposedly not available), in order to better understand ppultion concentration and movement. See here http://reality.media.mit.edu/ for example. Why would Google NOT be interested in getting into this stuff?
Why would it be stupid to publicize a project employees run on their 20% self-determined time? It's not like the 20% is intended for slacking off, it's productive time in which you can create something you think is best for the company, instead of the drudgery the managers push on you. It's still paid time and the results belong to the employer, as is their right. But it would be amazingly cool if a group of people manage to create an entirely new kind of product (for the company) without the involvement of management.
Google already has an excellent Maps application that runs on Windows Mobile. It's absolutely amazing in that it has almost the exact functionality as the PC browser version. All the map content is downloaded over the network as images and even so, it runs even faster than Pocket Streets. Way more useful too.
I'm not saying that it's a bad idea, I'm saying it won't be implemented without a huge amount of greed.
I should also point out an entire host of other misfeatures that are ONLY A COST
1. Shitty cameras
2. 22KHz sound drivers
3. Limited storage
4. Features disabled by the telco (file movement, bluetooth)
5. Limited CPU performance (re: 10fps videos)
Granted some of that is getting better, they are certainly dragging their feet as slow as possible to milk every last nickle and dime they can. And for those of us who just want a 'phone phone' we're often stuck with a phone that has absolutely no features (like say tri or quadband).
I won't hold my breath to see how this pans out. Because I know it'll take 10 years before we can get todays technology in tomorrows phones.
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
From a leaked press release:
From TFA: "Some of the time the engineers are dedicated to developing a mobile phone."
... cool. I look at my phone, and I don't see a phone, I see a over narrow bandwidth pipe with badly designed fittings.
Makes it sound like the engineers were sitting around in their treehouse and one of them thought it would be neat to make a really cool kinda phone thingy. Management overhears when its bringing them up a platter of PB&J sandwich,"OK, just don't fall behind on your homework." The wacky hijinks those kids get themselves into.
Seriously, the world doesn't need another mobile phone. But a real cool kinda phone thingy would be
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
for that kind of usage, you don't need a gps. Celle phone tracking would be enough. And it has been available for years. But I never really saw it being used.
O2 already has something similar using streetmap and imode for the UK. Never tried it though so cannot venture an opinion.
Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
http://www.sigsegv.cx/
It's apparent that both Apple and Google believe that the phone/hand-held-computer will be the next dominant computing platform, and they're intent on wrestling ownership of that platform away from RIM/Blackberry.
Interesting that Apple and Google are working tightly together on iPhone apps; now Google's working on their own phone, and there's also been rumors that Apple will license their "mini OS X" to other hand-helds. My guess is Google will be the first licensee, and Steve Jobs wants "mini OS X" to be the "Windows" of the 21st century.
Buy AAPL now for a times-20 return in 10 years.
boxlight
I guess you're in the US? Based on what I hear, you guys really get screwed-over by the cellular operators. Here in Europe, reasonable competition has ensured reasonable prices. As for the devices - well, I've got a Blackberry Pearl, and whilst the camera does not take great pictures, and the email, mp3,video etc. features will likewise not beat dedicated devices, it's a price I'm happy to pay to just carry one device. Works OK for making calls, too!
No, seriously, some engineers are working on a plan for Google World Domination (I don't know whether it's going to remain Beta) including a Google (Moon)Base and more... that they're working on free wireless for everybody and/or a phone doesn't surprise me.
Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
I don't know...I can get a cingular unlimited tethered card for $60/mo (which is really just a pcmcia receiver with a SIM). If google gets to advertise, they'll probably throw in the voip and misc. services for free.
The most basic non-data wireless plans are upwards of $30-40/mo with very limited usage, and the cheapest unlimited data to add to that is $20 - $40 if you're in a pda-style phone. So in effect, a good voip phone with only a data plan could be less than the current crop.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
Worse, I'm in Canada, where we have but one GSM provider. And they are sure to remind you about that fact every month when you see your bill.
Yeah, I know the EU has some nice competition, but things aren't perfect there either. In the end, it would be nice if they stopped trying to make sales from one quarter to the other by making people think they have to upgrade their phones.
I don't get where this "bigger badder better" business strategy comes from but it's a loser one. You end up spending so much on advertisement, product design, etc, every quarter that the phones end up being either super costly, or subsidized through corruption (re: telcos disabling all useful features).
I'd gladly pay $50 for a decent quadband phone with a useful battery life and nothing more. Why should I pay $350 to subsidize the advertisement, design, testing, documentation and rollout of this weeks model of phone? When all it is is the same quad-band I want with a bunch of poorly implemented strap-ons included "for my benefit."
In general, I disagree with the all-in-one idea because it isn't practical. A mp3/video/phone/etc player would have to be larger than my cell, have to have a larger battery to be useful (hey standby time of 45 minutes!!! that's awesome!), would cost more, and more likely to be stolen.
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
Whatever this is, it's gotta be better than Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian, or iPhone.
Why is it better than iPhone you ask? Because, apart from being one of the most restrictive and proprietary phones around, the iPhone has the outmoded usage model that the user wants to tie his phone to some desktop machine. I don't want to sync with a desktop, I want to sync with a network service.
That was a good play on words.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
In Soviet Russia dedicated KGB engineers find google phone targeted you.
The CIA will have so much fun with the targeted advertising backend.
Links google cookies, voice recording and phonecam?
NSA can link your web searches with your voice and face for free.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
John: Hey darlin'!
Jane: John... we need to talk.
John: Uh, OK.
Jane: It's just not working out.
Google: Want abs you can grate cheese with? Join Bally Total Fitness!
John: God damn thing - wait, what are you saying?
Jane: It's over John.
John: But why?
Jane: It's not you, it's me.
Google: Head to iTunes to download hot new singles like "Why Can't I be You" by Taylor Hicks!
Jane: Oh god, he totally sucked.
John: Just ignore it, please? And don't give me that bullshit line. What's the real reason?
Jane: It's your damn gPhone, alright? We can never just talk!
Google: Reduce ads by getting your friends a gPhone of their very own!
Jane: Goodbye John.
John: Wait Jane-
Jane: [click]
John: Oh for fuck's sake.
Google: Looking for sensual encounters? Try AdultFriendFinder.com!
John: I guess I am now.
---If you can't trust a nerd, who can you trust?
Apparently the new Google Video service (YouTube) motto, "See no Evil" hasn't caught on yet... :-)
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Yes, but couple the capability with Google's penchant and capabilities for and with contextual ads. I can see them doing exactly that.
"I can't wait to not buy this."
I can't wait to not care about your opinion.
Goo, goo, goo, goo, goo, goo, goo, google phone~
Ging, gang, ging, gang, ging, gang, ging, google phone~
[Enter fun stuff here.]
I have some a#$%^&e following me around simply knocking me down for the last 2 months. Since it comes in waves (4 points spread over 4 days then a week or 2 between), it is obvious that they are stalking me. Fortunately, the meta mods restore most of them. Hopefully, once this a$%^&*e gets hit a few more time, they will be denied points. It would be useful if /. would design to track that crap.
They have an open position for head of Spain and Porgugal regions :)
http://www.rense.com/general79/wdx1.htm
Google has proven that it is interested in the platform. The question is whether they are interested in entering the cellphone hardware market. That's an entirely different proposition and one unlike Google's existing business.
Also, you could press "Food" or enter "pizza" and it would show you restaurants in the area, maybe even give you directions.
I use Helio as my cell provider with the Samsung Drift phone, and I can do just that. Load up Google Maps and it shows my location, click on search and type in 'pizza' or 'italian' or whatever else I may be looking for it shows the closest places to my current location. Pretty handy, especially living here in NYC.
I reach for my gun.
It will interesting to see what Google comes up with. I for one however will not pay for anything that presents me with advertising.
What I do see is greater potential for a Google phone than an iPhone. Sure an iPhone could access Google Maps just like a gPhone. But what if you could actually develope your own client side Google Maps software with their API? That is of course assuming the gPhone has is open to developers in that manner. But if it was open to Googles APIs, there is a world o potential not present in the iPhone.
Of course, I'm hoping the iPhone is "hacked" to allow for any ol person to upload software to it.
I would urge the exec of Google Spain and Portugal to take advantage of the insane mobile coverage available to start providing the services that Google offers in the US. The SMS services are not to my knowledge available in Portugal - and probably it's the same for Spain). Myabe they want to skip it for a "new generation" thingie custom made for the iPhone, using UMTS/3G. Even if they are nice many people still use simple SMS instead of MMS and the like. I would probably be more interested in the "simpler" service then in a uber-complete 3D map of my current location with all the services surrounding me... Wait, that actually sounds nice.
Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google and board-member of Apple, said something cryptic after the introduction of the iPhone at Apple's last keynote. "Wimax is coming."
*Walks into store*
"Say, sport, how much is this radio?"
"243 bucks," He opines.
*Froogles*
"O'rly?"
Granted, you can do that now with printouts, and many people google from their phones, but widespread majority on-the-fly price lookups are gonna devastate local and regional retail mark-up. Lol at the end of market exploitation by isolation. Even now the nemesis of the retail salesman is the guy who comes in to check a product out, and then goes home to buy it on the inertnet.
I've already seen several comments trying to deny that Google is releasing a phone. These comments are from Apple fanbois that are pissing in their pants that Google is gonna whip Apple's ass in the mobile phone market.
This could destroy the iPhone before it even gets a toe-hold. iPhone is tied exclusively to Cingular(?) for (I forget how long exactly) years.
If Google phone gets released within one year without being crippled by a one cell provider arrangement then there will be a lot of Apple suckers wishing they didn't drink the Kool-aid.
Yes, but that would only be useful for outgoing calls. For incoming calls, you would have to leave your data on, which would suck your battery dry in no time.
Even Slashdot's being overrun by these pump-and-dump spammers....
The US free market: two halves of a government-granted duopoly are free to set the market price.
In the UK cell tracking has been used for the last few years. Orange had a page on their mobile site that was a map centred on where you were at that moment. It had things like nearest pub etc.
It hasn't been a great success but that's mainly because until 'smart' phones appeared, running other apps on a phone wasn't easy.
----- I refuse to have an argument with an unarmed person