The device might be here starting next year

Aug 3, 2007 07:25 GMT  ·  By

The fact that Google has plans for expanding on the mobile phone market is nothing new. Still, they might be bigger than previously thought, as the company has already invested millions of dollars in the project and is already discussing details for partnering with a handset producer to take the device out on the market.

It looks like the large sum of money that Google has invested in the development of this device has been used for making prototype handsets and make overtures to operators such as T-Mobile US and Verizon Wireless. They have also talked over technical specifications with phone manufacturers. HTC might be the one to bring the Google phone out on the market, as a result of a collaboration between the two companies.

Google counts on the fact that they will manage to partner with one major handset producer for building the mobile phone on account of their own specifications and then release it on the market. From that point on, the device should be taken by multiple carriers to offer their customers.

The device is currently still in planning stage, which also includes the development of new software to run on them. Google is working on a new browser for mobile phones, one which will make the best of this experience for users. Moreover, it plans on leaving out the possibility of charging a licensing fee to hardware makers and does not ask for their name to stand alongside that of the producer. Still, this might happen anyway if their concept proves to be just as excellent as they are promising.

One thing is for sure. The Google phone will arrive towards the beginning of next year, at its best. There are slim chances of seeing it sooner than that, as the company still has many steps to go through for making their concept come true.