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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)
"... 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)
...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.
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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?
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/
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
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.
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?
Yes, but couple the capability with Google's penchant and capabilities for and with contextual ads. I can see them doing exactly that.