Rumors have been flying around the internet for some time recently about the possibility of Google releasing their own mobile device. Well now it seems like this may indeed be the case, Google confirmed in a blog post that they have distributed an unreleased Android based phone to it’s internal developers.
Vice president of product management Mario Queroz said that Google employees are using “a device that combines innovative hardware from a partner with software that runs on Android,” but that this phone is “exclusively for Google employees,” not for consumers. This announcement was made shortly after Cnet Associate Producer, Jason Howell, had a first hands-on with the rumored device.
He first relayed his views on the gadget on Friday evening via Twitter, and confirms that the “mobile lab” device is an HTC phone running the Android 2.1 operating system. In his brief hands-on with the device he noted that it looked like the HTC Touch, only thinner and had the familiar track ball and it had the 4 navigation buttons. Unfortunately he didn’t get a chance to explore the new Android 2.1 interface, he did notice animated wall papers, and visual enhancements to the user interface as well as a rear facing camera. Oddly, he didn’t notice any Google logo on it.
The Wall Street Journal recently announced that mobile phone manufacturer, HTC would be releasing a phone called the “Nexus One” and that Google were responsible for the software that on the device. They also claimed that Google will be selling the device unlocked and it will be sold directly from Google.
However the guys over at Techcrunch have said that the device will be called the “Google Phone” but they were also able to confirm that the phone will be sold unlocked and directly to the consumer, cutting out the carriers. They also published some additional details, though these are yet to be confirmed. The rumored “Google Phone” is said to have a snapdragon processor, an OLED Touch screen and a voice to text feature. This “Google Phone” is said to be coming in January 2010
Theunlockr.com managed to get their hands on some leaked photos of the new gadget.
Source: Theunlockr.com
It certainly looks like a nice device and the specs that we are hearing so far sound pretty good. What do you think of this “Google Phone” and the possibility of the device been sold unlocked?
Let us know in the comments
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