Report: 50,000 Gphones shipping out

Pssst, here’s the latest Google rumor: A UBS analyst has confirmed that Taiwanese handset manufacturer HTC will ship about 50,000 cell phones running on a mobile operating system made by the Mountain View, Calif.-based search giant by the end of this year.

Last week a Wall Street analyst reported that Google’s shares would crack $700 with plans to make its own phone. Most, however, suspect that Google (GOOG) is making a mobile operating system that could work on any mobile device.

This isn’t the first time that HTC has been mentioned as a possible manufacturer of the Google phone, but none have nailed concrete details. Should the HTC/Google partnership turn out to be true, consumers can expect their Gphones sometime in 2008.

“These initial phones are not going to be for sale,” Benjamin Schachter, one of the analysts who worked on the report, said in a phone call earlier today. “These are going to be available for developers only to understand how the software works.”

HTC is a likely manufacturing partner for Google. The Taiwanese company is a smartphone specialist (it created its first for Orange back in 2002) and, as a semi-white label supplier, keeps a low profile by making phones branded by carriers, such as the T-Mobile Dash and the Cingular 8125. That could bode well for Google if it’s interested in slapping its own brand on a cell phone.

However, Schachter said he doesn’t believe that HTC will be the sole maker of the much-hyped device, and says Google is likely talking to other equipment manufacturers.

“If I had to guess, I’d say LG would be one of them,” he said.

According to Schachter, Google is likely to reveal more details at the Oct. 24 event it hosts for analysts. Until then, let the rumors roll.

Back to main column

Filed under Google, Mobile

4 Comments | Add a Comment | Email

Digg

Facebook

PLEASE let the rumors be true about the G-Phone! It’s bound to be a winner if true. Where can I sign up to get one? Sounds like someone from Google should be talking to carriers like METRO-PCS to me….Are you listening Google?

Posted By George Walters, San Francisco, CA : November 1, 2007 12:07 am

So how is this news? Being the first to break a rumor does not bode well for my perception of CNNMoney.com

“latest Google rumor”, “Most, however, suspect that”, “been mentioned as a possible manufacturer”, “none have nailed concrete details”, “turn out to be true”,”is a likely manufacturing partner”,”if it’s interested”,”If I had to guess”,”is likely”,”let the rumors roll”

Posted By Reader, Washington, PA : October 17, 2007 6:46 am

Rumors i’ve read on tech sites say you would watch a short advertisement(5 to 10 secs) and then you could make a call for free. Don’t know if it’s true but seems the most likely given googles business model.

Also most techies agree it’s not a phone it’s an OS with google ad service enabled.

Posted By James Troy, MI : October 16, 2007 12:15 pm

The interesting part of the whole Google Phone would be – How much would it cost to the customer? Not just in terms of money. but privacy too.
(http://thebizshow.wordpress.com)

Posted By Bizness Guru, Philadelphia, PA : October 16, 2007 10:00 am

CNNMoney.com Comment Policy: CNNMoney.com encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNNMoney.com may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNNMoney.com the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNNMoney.com Privacy Statement.