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Google To Step Up Smartphone Wars With Release Of Own Handset (telegraph.co.uk)

Posted by msmash on from the own-your-stuff dept.

According to a report by The Telegraph, Google is working on its first Google-branded smartphone, and plans to release it by the end of 2016. Unlike the Nexus program, in which Google mandates the design and specifications of the phone, but leaves the manufacturing aspect to its handpicked OEM, the new supposed phone will be built from the scratch by Google. From the report:The technology giant is in discussions with mobile operators about releasing a Google-branded phone that will extend the company's move into hardware, sources familiar with the discussions told The Telegraph. [...] The new device, which will be released by the end of the year according to a senior source, will see Google take more control over design, manufacturing and software.NYMag questions company's reported move:It's an unsurprising rumor to hear: Google CEO Sundar Pichai has publicly commented on the company's emphasis on phones, and Motorola's Rick Osterloh was hired earlier this year to head up a new hardware division. And there's also the much discussed Google Ara, a modular phone which lets you swap out pieces like a camera or speakers and is slated for release in 2017. But Google is already working with hardware companies like LG and Huawei on the Nexus line of phones, which are made to the company's exact design specifications but are manufactured by third parties. It's hard to see how Google could take more control over design or software than it already does with Nexus, and while the company is likely eager to move into the manufacturing space, the timeline for Ara hasn't changed, and it seems unlikely that this new mystery Google phone is going to jump in front and actually become available to the public by year's end.

6 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. WTF? by Zak3056 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm convinced that Google, as an entity is absolutely insane and should probably be heavily medicated. They bougth Motorola to move into smartphones, but sold them, because they couldn't integrate them (IIRC there were culture issues) so when they move back into mobile, they hire a Moto guy as CEO? I'm at a loss.

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    1. Re:WTF? by swillden · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm convinced that Google, as an entity is absolutely insane and should probably be heavily medicated. They bougth Motorola to move into smartphones, but sold them, because they couldn't integrate them (IIRC there were culture issues) so when they move back into mobile, they hire a Moto guy as CEO? I'm at a loss.

      Google bought Moto for the patent portfolio, and sold the rest off the Lenovo because it was too difficult for Google to deal with other Android OEMs as both a competitor and a partner. Presumably the same issue would arise with Google-made phones (assuming there's any substance to the rumor), but Moto was already a significant competitor in the space whereas Google would be starting from scratch and not a serious threat.

      Google and Moto cultures were quite different, but I don't think there was ever a serious effort to integrate Moto because of the need to maintain a wall between Moto and Android development. And even if culture issues were relevant, bringing in tens of thousands of people in an existing organization and retraining them all into the new culture is a very, very different proposition from bringing in isolated individuals, however senior.

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  2. Re:Finally an Android smartphone that won't suck by Yvan256 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Google's new but soon to be discontinued something...

  3. Re:Bye bye removable battery and SD cards by Drethon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    My old smartphone with removable battery and SD card is working just fine still. Going to see how many more years this continues for.

  4. Re:Bye bye removable battery and SD cards by JustNiz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yep and thats exactly why I haven't and wouldn't buy a Google phone.

  5. Re:whining by Zalbik · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Only people that talk 24/7 need a second battery. I'm surprised you are not complaining that apple only has 1 mouse button. Time to move on.

    I want a removable battery so I don't have to pay a $100-$300 charge when my battery completely dies after a couple of years. I'm still using a Galaxy S3, and am about to switch to my 3rd battery.

    No, I don't upgrade my smartphone like a lemming every year...it's a phone...I don't need a faster processor, more memory, fingerprint scanner, rectal thermometer or any of the other widgets offered on new phones. I think it is insane that society now considers a $500-$1000 computing device "throwaway".

    That being said, I will likely be upgrading in the next year or two for a larger screen & better camera. I will only look at phones with a replaceable battery.