Yesterday the New York Times published an interested article about the possible next hit in the mobile market: the GPhone.
This subjetc has been subject of rumours and debate for a while, with everyone expecting some iPhone-like gadget with futuristic hardware design and numerous bizarre functions….
Apparently the final product may be quite different from all this. “Executive” sources quoted that Google objetive is to develop an open-source, linux-based mobile operating system without developing the hardware itself. The hardware will be provided by any of the current manufactures, after an agreement with Google and without any licese fee (unlike WIndows Mobile).
Another interesting thing is that the cost of the phones may be partly subsidized by advertising that appears on their screens. This means:
- The end-user can have a highly functional device without paying a large sum of money.
- Every mobile advertisement business can exploit a market almost non-existent right now.
Google competitors remain officially silent, although some source criticized the idea, like Mr. Weide of IDC.: “Running a Web site and a search engine is one thing, but developing a phone is a whole different game. It will not be easy for them.”
