Google Phone

The deadline for phase one of Google’s Android Developer Challenge closed yesterday, and so the entrants are beginning to show off their wares. One of the more eye-catching is Enkin, an augmented reality app for Android which overlays GPS, motion information and other data over a live camera view of a user’s surroundings. As an idea it’s similar to designer Mac Funamizu’s encyclopedia frame concept, using real-time queries of online information to offer users pertinent information about their environment.

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The Hindustan Times recently had an article written by Puneet Mehrotra, a web strategist, who had a lot of good info, a nice recap, and grouped it all together in a summary in the form of Pro’s, Con’s, and indifferent. One of those things was the nick name for the Google gPhone as the Goophone, which, in my opinion, makes it sound like a device, not from Google Labs, but from Nickelodeon labs.

Anyways, onto what really matters, first, Google has reportedly partnered with Vodafone, Samsung, and LG. Another upside is that if Google were successful with their ad-funded platform that would put Google that much closer to taking down Microsoft, to some that’s good, to some that’s not, me personally, I don’t think Microsoft needs taken down, maybe just knocked down a notch or two, anyways, back to Google’s gPhone.

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With the market for mobile phone accessories estimated to meet or exceed $32 billion this year alone, what implications would a free phone and/or services have on that number? I am sure that when ABI Research did their study they hadn’t expected such a new move in the cell phone industry as free, as in lunch.

Granted the majority of those accessories are for gadgets or attachments that add functionality, but in the interest of protecting their precious devices, most people splurge on a case. Sometimes those cases are just for protection, other times they are just for easier access, often accomplished by adding a belt clip or some sort of other connector for ease of access.

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I cannot imagine Google’s gPhone to NOT have the latest Bluetooth specs - Bluetooth 2.1. That being said, any Bluetooth accessories should work especially Bluetooth headsets.

Sound ID SM100 Bluetooth Headset for Google ‘gPhone’ Phone

Designed for versatility, the SM100 offers three modes of use, Mobile Mode, EnvironmentalMode and One2One Mode. This lightweight and ergonomic in-ear headset can wirelessly connect to compatible devices, amplify surrounding sound when not being used with a mobile phone for enhanced in-person communications, as well as link to another SM100 EarModule to form two-way radio connections. Small, sleek and stylish, the SM100 is ready-to-use, right out-of-the box – giving users the ability to easily and conveniently adjust the device to meet his or her sound needs. This rich audio experience is complemented by RealComfort EarLoops to ensure comfort even with extended use.

The SM100 delivers three industry-first features:

Personalized Sound - a user can personalize the headset to his or her specific sound preferences - resulting in crisp, clear audio across mobile communications settings

Environmental Mode - When you’re not using your Bluetooth headset, the headset typically ends up blocking sound from that one ear in use. This creates an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous environment whereby you hear partial ambient sound from one ear. The SM100 fixes this problem by amplifing environmental sound when the headset is not in use - thereby equalizing sound coming to both ears.

NoiseNavigation System - Sound ID implements it’s “Auto Focus for your Ears” technology to reduce ambient noise to deliver clear speech and sound quality.

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