Google Cell Phone :Chicago Tribune 9/5/07

software this week? hardware early 2008?

[dibbern2]

Todays Chicago Tribune carried this story in it's business section.

They acknowledged that nothing can be proven, but imply that the G-phone not only exists, but it will be offered with free monthly services to users willing to put up with advertising (AdWords).

The online ad market is estimated at 2 - 4 billion in the US alone, and almost 15 bilion worldwide.

According to the story, all carriers are focusing on the ad market as the real future opportunity.

My guess: who else has the track record to dominate in an online ad market? Not ATT, Sprint, or Comcast; by the looks of their past attempts to develop search portals, they haven't a clue.

[weeks]

I agree. As G proved, first you build an ad base, then you move from there. But, the operators are going kicking and screaming into a universal mobile browser, so while this report is tough to believe, it might take this.

Good catch. Thanks.

[jtara]

Why would anybody bother to look at the ads, though?

I think most will just complete their left turn or finish making their selections from the frozen food isle during any delay for call completion, and ignore the screen.

If it's audio - well, that's just too obnoxious for users to put up with.

BusinessWeek has a much more extensive article about the rumored gPhone:

[businessweek.com...]

It appears that what Google is trying to do is come up with a less-costly smart phone at a reduced monthly cost. (Perhaps free, perhaps not.)

Perhaps the ads won't be so obnoxious, and simply appear when using the phone to browse the web. Google is hoping that users will actually use the browser (which most phone users don't).

The big question is - are those who are attracted to free service likely to high-income, technically-adept and with a need to access the Internet from their phone? Or will they be people in the marginal economy who want to sponge the free calls?

[Samizdata]

Perhaps the ads won't be so obnoxious

Video advertising suits the medium. Anyone for Vidsense?

[dibbern2]

The big question is - are those who are attracted to free service likely to high-income, technically-adept and with a need to access the Internet from their phone? Or will they be people in the marginal economy who want to sponge the free calls?

That's not really the big question.

Virtually everyone is attracted when something they have been paying for is offered free. From the low end to the highest high.

Also, its a mistake to think that AdWords are targeted mainly to the 'high-income, technically-adept' sector. Just take a good look.

[asinah]

I heard that Google develops a phone in Taiwan that will directly compete with the iPhone and will be announced by yearend. In Taiwan the main producers of smartphones are Gigabyte, BenQ or Asus.