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Google Shows Off Ad-Supported Cell Phone

Posted by Zonk on from the gotta-love-freebies dept.

taoman1 writes "Today Google showed off a ad-supported cellphone that the company plans to offer for free to interested parties. The product could reach the marketplace within a year, and will offer Google search, email, and a web browser. 'The move would echo another recent product launched by a phone industry outsider, Apple Inc.'s iPhone. But Google's product would draw its revenue from a sharply different source, relying on commercial advertising dollars instead of the sticker price of at least US$499 for an iPhone and $60 per month for the AT&T Inc. service plan. Negotiating the fairest way to split those advertising revenues with service providers could be a big hurdle for Google, one analyst said. Another problem is the potential that consumers could be scared off by the prospect of listening to advertisements before being able to make phone calls, said Jeff Kagan, a wireless and telecommunications industry analyst in Atlanta.'"

4 of 290 comments (clear)

  1. listen to ads? by SolusSD · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I can't imagine ANYONE using a phone as their main phone if they had to listen to ads before every call-- unless they couldn't afford a cell phone in the first place, inwhich case I doubt those ads would attract many buyers. :)

    1. Re:listen to ads? by CoffeeIsMyGod · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Unless of course calls are free and unlimited. I for one wouldn't mind dialing then getting a cup of coffee while an auto insurance jingle played if it would mean free long distance.

    2. Re:listen to ads? by networkBoy · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I would imagine similar to a non-activated phone still dialing 911, the google phone not blocking 911 calls with an ad.
      I'd likely get one, so long as that single criteria was met.
      -nB

      --
      whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
  2. Would work for me by PhilipMckrack · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have rare uses for a cell phone, I can either be reached at home or at work, or I'm with my wife with her cell phone. I can't be reached for the 10 minute commute from home to work and if you can't handle that it's not my problem. The biggest thing preventing me from getting a cell phone is cost, I can't justify paying for something I'll rarely use. This would work perfect for me, the few times a month I need to call someone I can wait through an add.

    The only drawback I can see is if your trying to make a 911 call and have to wait through a minute and a half of dice.com adds only to panic and hit 991 and have to do it all over again.

    If they do this I'd probably pick one up as probably one of the 2% of Americans that don't currently have a cell phone.