Google-Powered Phones Out by 2008

As expected, Google won't be building a "Google phone" per se, says the Wall Street Journal; instead, the search behemoth is developing a mobile platform that could shake up the wireless industry.There isn't anything earth-shatteringly new in the Journal article—the idea that Google is preparing a platform for cell phones has been bouncing around for months now—but the story adds a few interesting details about Google's plans and outreach efforts with phone manufacturers and carriers. (Naturally, Google isn't commenting one way or the other about the article.)

Anyway, Google will reportedly announce its mobile plans in about two weeks (or so says the Journal), and those plans call for a bundle of software and services to help hardware manufactures built Google-powered handsets. As predicted, the phones would come with easy access to Google's search engine, as well as Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and the like; Google, meanwhile, could make billions by serving up targeted (and even GPS-aided) mobile ads. The search giant also plans to open its platform to third-party development, so we can expect a galaxy of applications that'll tie in to Google's mobile services. The first Google-powered phones could come to market by the middle of the next year, the Journal reports.

So, who's first up to make a Google phone? Most likely HTC and LG, according to the Journal; meanwhile, Google has been cozying up to wireless carriers, including T-Mobile here in the U.S., so it's entirely possible we could see a Google-powered HTC or LG handset in T-Mobile's lineup by 2008.