Google in Discussions with Verizon over new Gphone

According to the Wall Street Journal, Verizon is in discussions with Google to develop a Gphone. In a direct competitive play to Cingular/AT&T’s relationship with the iPhone, Verizon would become the main hardware provider for the Google Gphone operating system. No word yet if there is to be an India launch of the Gphone as earlier and widely reported across the internet a few months ago. We correctly blasted the Gphone rumor story then.

According to the Wall Street Journal; for Google, a partnership with Verizon, the second largest U.S. wireless carrier, would give it access to 63.7 million potential customers. Google is also targeting at least one other major U.S. operator, Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA Inc.

Within a couple of weeks, Google will announce the new Gphone software and services that handset makers can use to develop customized applications. This may be a Facebook for mobile phone opportunity if developers find it easy to program.

Some of you may have noticed that Google and Verizon have fought in the past when Google was suing to force wireless carriers to open up their networks. Verizon tried to overturn the rules that Google successfully pushed through the Federal Communications Commission regarding the forthcoming radio spectrum auction.

However recently, Verizon dropped its appeal of the FCC rules. I’ll bet the Verizon decision to drop the case stemmed from this forthcoming agreement. We'll follow this story and report back to you on developments.

Additional Gphone reading

• Rumor and Innuendo – the India Gphone Fact or Fiction? ~ The India ...

• gPhone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• Google getting more serious about the Gphone? - Engadget