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Google’s Gphone rumored to enter India in Two weeks time

Is the Gphone on its way? We all were aware that the Google Phone AKA Gphone was on its way anytime in 2008. But what’s come as quite a startling news is that the device will launch in a fortnight’s time and apparently the company has already began talks with service providers in India for an exclusive launch on one of their networks, according to Rediff.

Bhart Airtel and Vodafone Essar are the prospective companies that may perhaps see the Gphone hitting on their networks.

Further on, reportedly a simultaneous release in the US and Europe is also in the works and announcements would be sent to media firms in India and around the globe. However sources that have given this piece of information also stated that the US regulatory approval, which is expected soon, is the only obstacle that Google is waiting to cross. Google plans to invest $7-8 billion for its global telephony venture.

According to reports, in India, there are talks with the local providers to provide data and content and platforms such as Instant Messaging (IM) and Search functions. But all the same, this bit of information is not yet confirmed.

A Google spokes stated, “We don’t comment on market rumour or speculation. However, Google is committed to providing users with access to the world’s information, and mobile becomes more important to those efforts every day. We’re collaborating with partners worldwide to bring Google search and applications to mobile users everywhere. However, we have nothing to announce at this time.”

Some days ago, Google had apparently shown a Google Phone prototype to mobile phone operators in the US, and was said to be in talks with handset makers.

According to Rediff.com Google only needs FCC approval and it’s ready for launch. Now it’s certainly not ‘only’ an FCC approval, cause that but has a lot of importance to it for sure.

The Apple iPhone is expected to launch in India in early 2008, or maybe even as early as 2007-end. In that case, the Gphone could perhaps pose a cut throat competition to Apple’s device.

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Google-Phone.com

The latest gPhone rumor - Google to launch its phone in a fortnight
Google Phone

Before you read too much into this, be sure to get your recommended dose of salt ready. A newspaper out of India is reporting that Google will in fact be releasing a phone, and much sooner than anyone would have anticipated.

According to their unnamed source it will be only a fortnight before we hear an official launch from Google. Their source goes on to tell us that Google is currently in talks with two of the largest carriers in India for the phones release and that we can look forward to a simultaneous release in both the UK and the US. While I don’t see the phone coming out in a couple of weeks, I will admit that it would be great to see it released in the US and the UK at the same time. All too often do we see a product released in on place, while the other sits around patiently waiting for their turn. (see: iPhone)

Google of course has declined to comment on the latest rumor and was careful to neither confirm nor deny their plans for a phone. They did however have this to say, “Google is committed to providing users with access to the world’s information, and mobile becomes more important to those efforts every day. We’re collaborating with partners worldwide to bring Google search and applications to mobile users everywhere.”

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Rediff.com

Forget iPhone, the Gphone is here

Google, the nearly $13.5 billion search engine major, is believed to be a fortnight away from the worldwide launch of its much-awaited Google Phone (Gphone) and has started talks with service providers in India for an exclusive launch on one of their networks.

Talks are believed to be taking place with Bharti Airtel [Get Quote] and Vodafone Essar, respectively India’s first and third largest mobile telephony operators, and state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam.

Sources close to the development said a simultaneous launch across the US and Europe is expected, and announcements would be sent to media firms in India and other parts of the world. US regulatory approval, which is expected soon, is the only hurdle that Google is waiting to cross, they added. Google plans to invest $7-8 billion for its global telephony foray.

In India, it is also believed to be in talks with Indian providers to offer data and content and platforms including Instant Messaging (IM) and Search functions. However, these could not be confirmed.

A Google spokesperson said, “We don’t comment on market rumour or speculation. However, Google is committed to providing users with access to the world’s information, and mobile becomes more important to those efforts every day. We’re collaborating with partners worldwide to bring Google search and applications to mobile users everywhere. However, we have nothing to announce at this time.”

Reports of the Internet major getting into handset manufacturing as an answer to Apple’s iPhone has been doing rounds in cyberspace and international media for some time. These reports suggest that Google has developed a prototype that will hit the markets in a year’s time. The US-based company has neither confirmed nor denied these reports. The Wall Street Journal too had reported that Google had invested “hundreds of millions of dollars” in the project and was involved in discussions with US-based T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless.

Globally, Google is likely to participate in the upcoming auction for 700 MHz spectrum for which it is prepared to spend up to $4.6 billion. The firm is also introducing ads to YouTube videos which could be replicated on mobile phones. Ironically, Google recently partnered Apple to produce services such as e-mail and maps for its iPhone handset. And Eric Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, said recently that more Google services for the iPhone would be rolled out.