Can the rumored gPhone beat the iPhone?

Even though Google told the world last year that it had no plans of releasing its own hardware and would instead focus on the software side of cell phones, very few people actually believed the assertion.

After all, with the iPhone performing well all over the world and a whole new era of cell phones having been ushered in, why wouldn't Google try to get in on the ground floor and try to build a brand?

But for months, the company has been tight-lipped about any hardware and has told anyone who will listen that Android will revolutionize the cell phone business. But according to a recent rumor from Robert X. Cringley over at PBS, Google is poised to release one of these devices by the end of this year, or early 2009.

Of course, Cringley didn't know too much about the device. "Here is what little I know, dropped in my lap this week by a loyal reader (you know who you are)," he wrote on his blog. "There are two gPhones slated for release with the first coming in September and the second probably not appearing until after Christmas."

"Given that the first is the high-end model and the second is cheaper, Google will probably expect to make as much money as possible on the higher-margin units at Christmas before revealing the budget model even exists. How Apple-like, eh?"

And while Cringley has rarely guessed right with his predictions, this one seems credible enough to discuss. After all, if Google does release two gPhones, can you imagine the impact it would have on entire industry?

As I've mentioned here before, the cell phone industry is an extremely competitive environment that few companies with no experience can adapt to. And while the idea of a gPhone coming to your cell phone stores may make some sense, it'll fail unless Google plays its cards right and realizes that what we really want has nothing to do with EDGE and the inability to unlock it.

Simply put, the only way the gPhone can thrive in the cell phone industry is if it capitalizes on the desires of consumers. Instead of wasting our time with 3G or EDGE, consumers want to be able to connect to home networks via Wi-Fi (which, according to Cringley will happen), but we also want some sort of VoIP client available to us so we don't necessarily need to waste minutes or cash using one of the cell phone provider's crappy service.

Beyond that, the gPhone, which could be produced by Samsung, needs to utilize the very best Android can offer. If I buy this device, I don't want bare bones functionality, I want to see Google push the limit of what cell phones can do and include all of those things that I wished the iPhone offered. MMS and third-party apps, anyone?

But most importantly, the gPhone will only be able to beat the iPhone if it's available on more than one carrier. When the iPhone was released on AT&T exclusively, the company set a dangerous precedent that shouldn't be overlooked. Beyond that, Apple lost an important avenue of growth by locking it down to AT&T and it's feeling the effects of it now with recent reports suggesting about 1 million unlocked iPhones are in the wild.

But if Cringley's source is correct, it looks like Google is already doing just that. According to the columnist, the online firm may be talking to both T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless to form a pact. And assuming this is true, what will that mean to Steve Jobs and company? Wouldn't it suggest that Google realized the mistakes Apple made with the AT&T deal and is trying to do all it can to stop the iPhone in its tracks?

Simply put, the future of the gPhone is in doubt. And although rumors abound about the possibilities, the chances of hearing anything about this device in the near-term are quite slim. But if Google creates a compelling product that learns from Apple's mistakes and allows us to do what we want, how we want, when we want, I think you'll see a whole new ballgame arise in the mobile space.

And if you ask me, a little competition may be good for every party involved. I just don't think it's time to write the iPhone off just yet.

[jacobshm]

Apple didn't create a precedent, they followed a convention.

[PS3Rulez]

naw even if google make the "gphone" it still wont beat the iPhone I am certain of that.

[bizzton3k]

good to hear you are so certain.

Lul - watch out, here come the paid-off apple fanboys

[cardfan1212]

You really think the masses give a crap about VOIP?

[Remag]

VOIP is here to stay. You're quick to name calling and most likely know **** from shoe polish. VOIP is far superior than land lines.

[cbaisa]

maybe not yet but the masses do care about third party apps, and being able to choose one's carrier.

[cpriz]

cNet clearly hates apple because all you and all the editors ever try and do is come up with ways for other companies to beat out Apple. The truth is, Apple has revolutionized the entire cell phone market and trust me, they will absolutly create more iPhones that will capitalize on the things they missed in the first generation.

[Remag]

I don't know about cnet hating Apple but I agree with the rest of your comment. Just look at all the recent phones that are iPhone look-a-likes and let's not forget the iPod. Everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon. If you want cheap crap, buy PC which is another way of saying PieceCrap.

Lol - I told you the paid-off apple-biting fanboys would show up.

It's why Apple exists in roughly 10% of the world, and PC in the other 80% xD ( linux... 10%... me feel sorry for you :( )

[TrueLeo]

the iphone is a great phone but iv yet to see anyone using one. i think being exclusive to AT&T did some damage to the iphone potential consumers. i believe if the Gphone is under more that one provider, and t-mobile and verizon would be ideal, and had just 75% of the functions and features, the Gphone would be successfully, if it has 90%-100% or more of the iphones features, the Gphone i believe would take off. i wouldnt go has far as to say the iphone "revoutionized" the cell phone market. i see tons more people have a blackberry than a iphone. and the editors at cnet are very together with their articles. if there is something biased about they mention it, and still give an unbiased opinion, i dont know where id be with out this site.

[Remag]

The iPhone is being used by many. IMHO, Apple should have given ALL the carriers the option of having it. I use T-Mobile and would NEVER switch to any other phone service. That leaves me out of getting an iPhone. If ATT doesn't make a good showing in customers getting the iPhone, I'm sure Apple will end it's contract and look to other phone companies. I think then you'll see the iPhone fly.

[jtklein]

The only reason I don`t have an i-phone is AT&T. Their service is terrible and apple`s match up with them will go down as the greatest blunder in the history of telecommunications.

[whatnow992]

if you dont like AT&T, you can unlock the iphone. but thats a lot of work. I'm interested to see what this gPhone will turn out to be.

[tonenyc]

at&t is not the reason iphone doesn't have a lot of buyers... why? iphone has too many buyers in my opinion. apple's marketing made sure to polish that turd like it was the hope diamond. the problem with the iphone is that the only people who will find utility with it are those with entertainment needs. they like the pretty touch screen, half-assed music player, the video, and internet. after that, it doesn't do much else but look pretty. at&t isn't great at makin ppl giggle. go to tmobile sidekicks or verizon vcast for that crap. at&t is about business. so iphone on at&t network is senseless.

if the iphone stop BSing around, adopt some decent level of productivity and cut the itunes leash to adopt drag and drop, it would be worth the price tag. if the gphone brings the iphone (cuteness + multitouch) together with real productivity, it will murder the iTurd all day, everyday!

then again the apple fans or iSheep can be a tough group to deal with. they aren't smart enough to think for themselves. so if this is a real google phone, they'll need some expert marketing to scream out how pretty it is. the real thinkers will know what to look for!

[Remag]

tonenyc, you sound like sour grapes, I guess you can't afford an iPhone. You are damn good at name calling. Why are there so many look-a-likes? It's not because it's a POS. You are a PC [PieceCrap] person and just don't like and do not know what the Apple Mac is all about. You fall into the 95% bracket. "5% of the people have hemorrhoids and 95% of the people are Perfect AHoles".

Lmao tonenyc, truer words have never been spoken. Bravo.

[Rod Roddy]

Google is Microsoft junior--they're slowly trying to take over the world, now if only Dr. Evil would have thought of web searching.....mmmmmright.

[bilalbz]

better to have two evil competing with each other, than to have one really sucky, boring, mindless copy cat evil (aka microsoft) screwing everyone everywhere.
on that note, Microsoft has never produced one single piece of original software/hardware in its entire history, whereas google has proved to be far more creative and effective.

bilal
http://buzzzword.blogspot.com/

[the_smurf]

What about using Sprint? Sprint is just as technologically forward as Verizon.

As for T-Mobile / AT&T, If the gPhone goes GSM / EDGE, I will gladly skip it.

[psiddle]

Sprint is universally recognized as having the absolute worst customer service in the world (not just the communication world, but the entire business world!).

[MrRetardo]

iPhone? Nice. I still dont see any being used. Maybe its because most people today are more worried about paying bills & putting gas in their car rather than spending $500 on a frickin' phone that sends email? Or maybe its the fact that AT&T isnt the greatest Cell Phone Provider?? While I congratulate Apple on their iPhone, I must also sit back & laugh at them for making mistakes. A gPhone would shake things up a bit, I'd think. Gimme a phone with a user replaceable battery, touch screen, ability to use ANY service provider, and doesnt cost more than a car payment, then we'll talk.

[Revrant]

The iPhone itself did nothing interesting, it was a pain in the ass to use(and still is) as well as being overpriced, what Apple did was show off it's muscles by forcing an exclusive deal with AT&T and pushing the idea of touchscreens for phones on other companies. Most players on the market already beat the iPhone, and indeed, sales prove that, this isn't Blu-Ray, the better product wins because people get the chance to play with their phones before coughing up the dough, Google has a solid chance to make a phone for the consumer and win big.

[Staszek]

I love comments like this, probably from someone who has played with the phone for like 5 minutes. I do not have a Mac, and have used TONS of other phones, the iphone is one of the simpliest phones I have ever used. Its so extremely intuitive that my mother who is completely computer illiterate was able to pick up the iphone and use it.

I also love how people are comparing a product (gphone) that has never been touched, seen has no specifications what so ever.

I am not saying that google cannot come with a grea phone but come on people, we are putting the cart in front of the horse here are we not?

Also for the people who are still talking about 3rd party apps, the SDK (software developement kit) will be out from Apple this month, so I guess you will have one less thing to talk about.

Besides an Ipod this is the only Apple product I have ever owned, after my experience with it I am thinking of switching over from 20 plus years of PC use.

One last parting shot, do you really think google is going to make this phone open to all networks? Not likely, unless they make more then one phone. If they decide to go the Verizon Sprint way they are stuck in the US unless they decide to come out with two technilogiclly different phones day one, people forget that the rest of the world unlike the US is GSM.

Lest we not forget that out of all the carriers, Verizon is the MOST restrictive in what it allows on its phones, they were the last carrier to offer bluetooth (save nextel but they dont count) and when they did it was overly restrictive.

The iphone is no perfect, far from it, but the grass is not always greener elsewhere.

@ Staszek

I love comments like this, when people pull half-retard arguments out their ***** and try and sound smart xD

Ah, the internets. How fun.

[Staszek]

I always love how people are comparing a product (gphone) that has never been touched, seen has no specifications what so ever to something that is already in the market.

I am not saying that google cannot come with a grea phone but come on people, we are putting the cart in front of the horse here are we not?

Also for the people who are still talking about 3rd party apps, the SDK (software developement kit) will be out from Apple this month, so I guess you will have one less thing to talk about.

Besides an Ipod this is the only Apple product I have ever owned, after my experience with it I am thinking of switching over from 20 plus years of PC use.

One last parting shot, do you really think google is going to make this phone open to all networks? Not likely, unless they make more then one phone. If they decide to go the Verizon Sprint way they are stuck in the US unless they decide to come out with two technilogically different phones day one, people forget that the rest of the world unlike the US is GSM.

Lest we not forget that out of all the carriers, Verizon is the MOST restrictive in what it allows on its phones, they were the last carrier to offer bluetooth (save nextel but they dont count) and when they did it was overly restrictive.

The iphone is no perfect, far from it, but the grass is not always greener elsewhere.

[john55440]

"consumers want to be able to connect to home networks via Wi-Fi "

T-Mobile already does that:

"Transition between Wi-Fi calling and T-Mobile's wireless network while you talk when used with a HotSpot @Home wireless router and HotSpot@Home optional service."

[madairpsycho]

iPhone = most overhyped phone ever.

The only "revolutionary" thing the iPhone did was a great GUI. Touchscreen, mp3, video, GPS, web-browser, etc. were already in existing phones.

Apple did a great job creating an emotional reaction which is what sells iPhones. That said, I would get one myself but the lack of certain features (3G, mms...) that I use regularly keeps me with a buggy dumbphone, ahem, smartphone. Can't deny the iPhone is sexy looking and has a great GUI so I hope Apple can bump up the feature set.

Perhaps iPhone 2 or this rumored gPhone will address these issues and I may pull the trigger then; or, go the other way and get a basic candy bar phone that just makes phone calls.

[Ginkumo287]

I work for an AT&T agent store and my company can't sell the iPhone. You must go to a COR AT&T store or online etc. Because of this, I am told to sell against the iPhone. I must say that the iPhone is a beautiful phone, and the touch screen is a nice add on. What really amazed by, is how my customers ask me for the iPhone. My customers will walk in asking for it, and (as I am told to do) I will ask them why they're interrested in that particular phone. "Well...because..I mean.. It's the iPhone...it will do anything.." I then try to tell them about the lack of 3G and MMs and other things. Their reply "Yea...but..it's the iPhone.." And after a long while of trying to place them in another model phone, that is much less expensive that will do even more than the iPhone, I still get. "Yea...that's nice but... iPhone...it looks cool on the TV..." And this just isn't one customer in particular, this happens at least once a day. I guess I must agree with the comment earlier that called iPhone customers "iSheep". And don't even get me started on the customer who come in "How much is the iPhone..? Oh, and I don't want any texting, or internet..or that Gsp...or..Grps..or Gps what ever you call it..I just want the phone.." (At least three times a week...)

[fergusoncr]

Wow, all of this hate for the IPhone. I wonder how many of you have actually used one? Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.......just because it doesn't have one or two features doesn't make it garbage. It just might not be the phone for you.

I see the silver lining in all of this, and it's the fact that we've become so spoiled as consumers. I mean, look at us twenty years ago, and a lot of use were still using rotary-dial land lines. Back then, the only extra features on our phones was being able to switch from "tone" to "pulse". Nowadays, if the "phone" doesn't have enough features to make a Swiss Army Knife jealous, it's considered crap.

I'll address a couple of the comments:
1. The Iphone is not difficult to unlock. It took me less than five minutes with the latest Ziphone GUI.

2. The Iphone does perform up to the hype, just not in ways that's going to make everyone happy. The interface is what makes the phone, and it's nothing short of revolutionary. I've been in the cell business for a long time, and this phone is one of the biggest leaps forward ever in that regard.

3. Lack of MMS? Quit whining, and have someone send the pic to your e-mail address and retrieve it via EDGE or wi-fi.

4. Lack of 3G? I'll give you that. I heard that Apple didn't include it because of the space the chip takes up and the energy consumption. The energy consumption one would be easy to fix by enabling the user to turn it on and off, just like the wi-fi and bluetooth.

5. While we're whining, I ought to also mention that the IPhone (despite it's brilliant IPod interface)doesn't support stereo bluetooth. For me right now, that's my biggest pet peeve.

[checkgio]

It would be awesome if they could integrate Google's Grand Central into the gphone.

[a_mos172]

I think google has a legitimate chance to dethrone the iPhone. Make it non-exclusive.... offer it in CDMA & GSM.... GSM for everyone else, but I want CDMA. I like my data fast.
I think it's more about the software than a phone, but if they're going to release a phone its got to be soon.