For some, Google has become synonymous with the Internet, as the Mountain View, California-based company is responsible for the world's biggest search engine. However, Google's plans have long expanded to new segments, with the company now offering a wide range of different products, spanning from Internet-related solutions to mobile operating systems, enabling the company to compete in various markets. On that note, it appears that Google's most recent project, the Chrome OS might include plans of a Google-branded netbook that the search giant could sell directly to consumers.

According to a recent news article on TechCrunch, the company has been reportedly talking with at least one hardware manufacturer which might have the plans for building the netbook that Google could announce sometime before the 2010 holiday season. Apparently, according to the said source, Google gave the manufacturing company a RFP (Request for Proposal), which includes all the technical details of the much-rumored Google-branded Chrome OS netbook.

Unfortunately, at this time, the technical specifications of the said netbook aren't available. However, it's highly probable that the device will be available through one or more carriers, with a subsidy, which basically indicates that Google will adopt a number of wireless connectivity options. However, more details should emerge, if the report is based on more than just a rumor.

Google's debut in the world of netbooks, as a device vendor is not very surprising, considering the company's expected entrance in the mobile segment with the HTC-designed Nexus phone. The Chrome OS-running Google netbook might use an ARM-based platform, one that could likely compete with that of NVIDIA's Tegra. Considering the performance capabilities of NVIDIA's Tegra, the Google netbook could pack an interesting number of features and has the potential of revolutionizing the segment. However, we are currently dealing with rumors and we should take all with a grain of salt.