Google Phone

A freshly published Google patent filing suggests that, while the company may be on good terms with cellular carriers now, in the future the telcos might be a little more resentful.  Titled “Flexible Communication Systems and Methods”, the document describes a system whereby a mobile device - such as an Android cellphone - could monitor and judge available wireless networks and route voice and data traffic over whichever was the cheapest. Google’s filing describes cellular, WiFi and WiMAX networks as all being potential routes, with the technicalities invisible to the user; their example is a mobile handset that works on home WiFi then seamlessly transitions to a WiFi hotspot or cellular network when outside.

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Could Google be saving their 700MHz money and have Sprint’s WiMAX in their sights instead?  That’s a possibility according to mobile investor Paul Grim, who sees the fledgling next-gen wireless broadband technology as perhaps one of the best options for fast-tracking Android into the mainstream.  The idea of such a partnership isn’t new - we wrote about it back in August - but with the launch of the OHA platform and the nearing 700MHz auction, some commentators are beginning to back away from predictions that Google will flex its credit card and pick up sole ownership of the spectrum, instead suggesting that either a co-buy or MVNO route would be more feasible.

“The only way to shortcut the slow option is to ensure WiMAX becomes viable. Sprint’s only route to glory is a completely open network — through WiMAX … [Google] would be smart to maybe partner on the spectrum auction to freeze out Verizon, invest in a joint venture to run Xohm [the Sprint WiMAX project], or maybe even become an anchor tenant as a mobile virtual network operator [MVNO] on the network” Paul Grim, SunBridge Partners

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Scant seconds after the rumor breaks that Google will be announcing their gPhone OS and application suite within two weeks, comes the suggestion that talks with mobile operators in the US are in far more advanced stages than previously believed.  Key, indeed, is the revelation - as usual, by “people familiar with the matter” - that both Verizon and Sprint are close to formulating a deal with Google for gPhone-powered handsets to utilise their networks.

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The latest concept comes from dial-a-phone and essentially looks like an all white version of the iPhone. I like the appearance of the design, but Google doesn’t seem likely to release a device that’s already been done.

Other than the concept from the blog, the writer had some other interesting things to say, such as the likely US carrier being T-Mobile and them partnering with Orange in foreign markets. Orange might get the foreign market contract, so might several other companies, but to be honest, and selfish, I don’t care who gets the foreign market service contract, I am only worried about me (US).

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Sprint recently announced that they will be shipping a version of Nokia’s N800 Internet Tablet that will be able to access their 4^th generation WiMAX network. Hopes are high that Sprint’s new network will be widespread enough for a large number of people to make good use of this new iteration of Nokia’s N800.

It would make a lot of sense for some sort of agreement like this to materialize during the design of the phone, as it would require the special WiMAX chips. If Sprint decides to lease bandwidth on its WiMAX network to other carriers it would also make it a more viable option. In a dream world though, Google would just partner with Sprint on this and start making use of all that “dark fiber” Google was buying up a while back.

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