Google in talks for branded phone, newspaper reports
Will Orange soon be Google's favorite color?
France Telecom Group's mobile-telephony division Orange is in discussions with Google about a prospective "branded Google phone," according to a report in the Observer.
"Manufactured by HTC, a Taiwanese firm specializing in smart phones and Personal Data Assistants, it might have a screen similar to a video iPod. It would have built-in Google software (for) surfing the Web from a mobile handset," reported the Observer. "The companies believe that they have an affinity as brands that are perceived as both 'positive' and 'innovative.'"
Orange is one of the world leaders for mobile telephony. Driven by the adoption of the Orange brand in Poland, the buyout of Amena in Spain, as well as the performance of numerous subsidiaries, the mobile business now accounts for 50 percent of France Telecom's sales.
