My take on the Google phone rumors

There’s abundant evidence that Google is in the process of assembling a suite of services that will compete head on with traditional voice services.  Lately, the tech press has been in over the top buzz mode with rumors like this one on Tech Crunch. These rumors have Google branding its own handset. Personally, I’d love to see a Wifi / 4G handset, but I have serious doubts that this is what would be coming.

Google put Android out into the ecosystem as an open platform for an open device hoping to make mobile more open for its services.  Unfortunately, the wireless cartel is more of a monoculture, and the open Andriod has become very closed in the hands of that cartel. This leaves the availability of any new Google services on these handsets entirely up to the whims of 4 or 5 companies.

I suspect Google may be entering the market as an MVNO or virtual network operator. While rumors have AT&T as a likely network provider, the company that could benefit most would be Sprint. If Google is to be an MVNO, I don’t expect the phone to be much more open, just more easily connected to Google services and partners.  And, with the Google moniker on a handset, it will add another credential to the company’s  new evil empire image.