31 Oct 2007
Google is close to a deal with Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel over its new mobile phone, according to the online Wall Street Journal.
An agreement is likely to reached within two weeks for launch of a Google phone in the middle of 2008. The central feature of the Google handset will be an open operating system that will encourage developers to create apps.
But the phone will include Google’s own applications – Google Maps, Gmail and a social networking feature combining YouTube and Facebook-style offering called Makamaka.
An agreement with major US operators would be a breakthrough for the search firm in its dealings with wary telecom operators.
As the ATT-Apple iPhone deal demonstrated, the carriers are still the critical elements in handset marketing channel, especially in the US.
