Slashdot Mirror


Google Says "We're Not Doing a Mobile Phone"

thefickler writes "A top Google executive has denied outright that the company is developing a mobile phone. Last week rumors were flying after a Google official speaking in Spain said that the company was looking into offering a mobile phone; and British phone analyst Richard Windsor claimed that during CeBIT Google staff confirmed that a Google mobile phone was being developed. However, Alan Eustace, senior vice president of engineering and research, has now said 'We're not doing a mobile phone, I'd like to find something that is broader, rather than do yet another mobile device.'"

7 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. First things first by bogaboga · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wonder why folks at Google do not first help us with the Linux desktop. They could do so by enabling ODF document search, pushing open media formats (video and audio), and publicity. Right now, QT4 does not look bad or incapable at all.

    1. Re:First things first by MoonFog · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Their motto is "Do no evil", not "Help open source". They're still a company in the business of making money and unless they see it as a source of revenue to help making Linux a viable desktop alternative, do you really think they will do it? Just to "be nice"?

    2. Re:First things first by thrillseeker · · Score: 1, Interesting

      unless they see it as a source of revenue to help making Linux a viable desktop alternative, do you really think they will do it

      The less money that Microsoft earns, the more there is for everyone else.

    3. Re:First things first by porkThreeWays · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yeah I guess. But I think google is a little smarter than that. Their moves are more calculated. A mobile phone would need a platform and I doubt they'd use just another OS. It's the same way MS got into the server market. At the time the desktop was ripe for the taking. They took it. Once they controlled a sector they seeped into the server market because so many people were familiar with windows desktop. Once google controls the embedded market they could integrate it somehow with their web offerings. Once they control your phone and your browser, what's next? Taking on the Goliath in one swoop makes for great history, but you are more likely to be successful in winning important battles over the long term. Windows mobile sucks and is a piece of garbage and the others aren't a whole lot better. I think google could make a vastly superior product and take the market. Remember hotmail before gmail? Remember yahoo maps before google maps? They were awful products and google bitch slapped them and took their spoils.

      --
      If an officer ever threatens to taze you, say you have a pacemaker.
  2. Of course not... by zappepcs · · Score: 2, Interesting

    After watching what happened to Apple, smart people should wait to see if wireless carriers are forced to become common carriers. Until they are common carrier status, its not worth trying to get into their game... sadly.

  3. Re:So? by QuickFox · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Maybe lying isn't evil in their book. Google has yet to define what they consider evil and what they consider good. For instance, encouraging and promoting domain squatting is definitely evil in my book, but apparently not in theirs.

    Either that, or "Do no evil" doesn't apply in all fields.

    --
    Terrorists can't threaten a country's freedom and democracy. Only lawmakers and voters can do that.
  4. definition of phone by rubikskube · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "Something broader, rather than another mobile device". Perhaps Google's definition of 'phone' or 'mobile device' is something archaic, and that what they're creating is so different from what we have now, it begs a new name.