Both the Seattle PI and the Seattle Times have details about a group of technology companies -- including Microsoft and Google -- seeking permission from the US Federal Communications Commission to test a prototype device that uses "white space" radio spectrum freed up as TV stations go digital. Could it potentially be a way for these companies to offer mobile services without having to work with mobile carriers?
Microsoft is apparently building a prototype device to sense and make use of open radio spectrum. Google, along with Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Philips are part of the group asking the FCC to let the device be tested.
The companies have filed a letter with the FCC, which I've been unable to locate through the FCC site itself. If anyone finds a link, please add it to the comments. The Seattle PI story says that the FCC's Office Of Engineering & Technology asked for companies to submit prototypes for testing back in December. You'll find a bit more info from the FCC about that here (or here in PDF format)
Earlier this month, we reported on news that UK mobile providers have been looking to perhaps band together and lock out search companies. Over the past year, there have also been various reports of mobile providers concerned that content from people like Google or Microsoft burdens their systems without giving them revenue. It makes it easy to think that Microsoft and Google in particular might welcome a nice slice of radio waves to use for their own wireless devices.
On Jan 18th, 2007 Engadget showed the Google Switch.
This is what they said..
Color us skeptics on this one, but we've got a tipster claiming to have the scoop on Google Switch. This version of the mythical Googlephone is said to be the result of a collaboration with Samsung -- not Alpha Networks or HTC. Of course, it's a button-less touchscreen device as is the rage these days only this time with GPS built-in for pinpoint navigation around Google Maps. What's pictured in that all too familiar blur (Photoshopped?) is the phone's contact program said to be an extended version of Gtalk combining Gmail, text and instant messaging. According to our tipster, the device doesn't have any on-board storage. That's right, all your applications are served up over the network with new apps "attached" to your account via a web interface. So what is it... the real deal or engorged fanboy fantasy? Check the gallery below for biggie pics suitable for dissection.
On 14 November 2006, Google CEO said that Mobile phones should be free and should be monetized by ads.
Google chief executive Eric Schmidt sees a future where mobile phones are free to consumers who accept watching targeted forms of advertising.
Schmidt said as mobile phones become more like handheld computers, and consumers spend as much as eight to 10 hours per day talking, texting and using the web on these devices, advertising becomes a viable form of subsidy.
Schmidt told Reuters: "Your mobile phone should be free. It just makes sense that subsidies should increase [as mobile ads proliferate]."
He was speaking following a speech on the theme of business at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.
The Guardian reported that Google had tied up with Orange. This tie-up and its consequinces were very nicely explained here as follows.
The future for Orange could soon be Google in your pocket from The Observer talks about Google and mobile phone operator Orange apparently discussing the creation of a Google branded phone. I can't feel there might be a bit of hype here leaking from the Orange side. Google has a very tight partnership with Orange competitor T-Mobile in the UK. Google's preloaded on all those phones as a search default, plastered in T-Mobile brochures and so on. One quote especially makes me dubious:
A source close to the talks told The Observer: 'Google are software experts and are doing some amazing work compressing data so that the mobile user gets a much better experience. They don't know so much about mobiles, but they are eager to learn from Orange's years of experience.'
No, Google's only been doing things for mobile phones since at least 2001, when they set up the mobile search and page squeezing service many people think is a new thing. Yep, they don't know so much about mobiles. Thank goodness Orange can come in to educate them.
I'd say Orange has had great success in taking generic phones from people like HTC and redubbing them with the Orange brand (until recently, I was a proud Orange SPV C500 owner, so I'm well familiar with Orange).
Frankly, either my Verizon XV6700 or my T-Mobile MDA Vario II make it easy to surf the web and search with Google (or other providers). So I don't see a Google-Orange partnership as somehow being a big revolution to improve the experience as described:
But it would have built-in Google software which would dramatically improve on the slow and cumbersome experience of surfing the web from a mobile handset.
We'll see, of course. I could be wide of the mark, but I would think it's more likely that Google is looking to do perhaps a deeper deal with Orange that T-Mobile, perhaps by loading up phones with existing Google mobile apps. That's not quite a revolution, though it would be a boost to Google in the mobile space. Heck, maybe they'll even consider better support for the Windows Mobile devices they pretty much ignore.
This tie-up also resulted in a very important fuel to the rumours.
News came on January 3, 2006 that Google got the CDMA patent??? shocking!!! was that it had applied for it in January 2006.
News from Alexadria, Virginia (home of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) today that Google has been awarded a new patent in the wireless arena. It's far from search related but we still thought it was worth a mention since it's Google is a company many of you watch closely (understatement). From the way the patent reads (I'm far from an expert), it seems that Google has developed technology to make more data accessible at faster speeds on CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) systems.
Could licensing this technology to various wireless providers be a new revenue stream for Google?
Title: Baseband direct sequence spread spectrum transceiver
Application Filed: January 26, 2001
Application Awarded: January 3, 2006
Abstract:
A baseband direct sequence spread spectrum CDMA transceiver. The data signal is modulated with a Hadamard function having pseudorandomly scrambled rows. This data signal is then broadcast baseband, absent a carrier, by a relatively short, mismatched antenna. The baseband signal is spread out across the DC to 30 MHz spectrum. A low noise, high gainbandwidth product amplifier boosts the baseband RF signal. A correlator/servo system is used to actively cancel the transmit signal from the received signal. Consequently, the same antenna can be used to receive incoming baseband RF signals as well as transmit baseband RF signals, thereby providing full duplex operation.
From the Background of Invention:
The advantages of CDMA carry over into high-speed wireless digital access. Increasingly, wireless digital applications are being used to access digital data (e.g., the Internet, intranet, multimedia, business data, etc.) at high speeds. With high speed wireless access, mobile users can obtain instant access to the Internet, business data (e.g., stock market quotes, sales reports, inventory information, price checks, customer data, emails, pages, etc.), and other real time data (e.g., traffic updates, weather information, sports news, etc.). The goal is to provide cellular handsets, personal digital assistants, portable communications devices, etc. the ability to transmit and receive digital data as well as make conventional telephone calls. The trend is towards ever faster mobile data speeds to meet customer demands. With greater data speeds, it is possible to provide even more data to more users. Recent CDMA based standards such as IS-95 and 3G are proposing increased data rates and capabilities.
This was also done secretly.... no official announcements made..
The earlier rumours had somewhat ended... but then.. News came on AUGUST 17, 2005 that Google had secretly bought a small company, Android Inc.
Now, what was this Android??
Android (www.android.com) has operated under a cloak of secrecy, so little is known about its work. Rubin & Co. have sparingly described the outfit as making software for mobile phones, providing little more detail than that. One source familiar with the company says Android had at one point been working on a software operating system for cell phones.
The news also said
SEEKING A MOBILE EDGE. In a 2003 interview with BusinessWeek, just two months before incorporating Android, Rubin said there was tremendous potential in developing smarter mobile devices that are more aware of its owner's location and preferences. "If people are smart, that information starts getting aggregated into consumer products," said Rubin.
Rubin declined to comment on Android or its sale to Google. A spokesperson for the search giant would not elaborate on the deal, only stating: "We acquired Android because of the talented engineers and great technology. We're thrilled to have them here."
Google has been toiling to make its services more appealing to people who access the Net over cell phones and other mobile devices. In April, the company uncorked local-flavored search for mobile users. Also in April, it announced Google Short Message Service (SMS), which sends text-based information to mobile users seeking everything from driving directions to weather forecasts.
WELL-KNOWN TALENT. In May, Google acquired Dodgeball, a mobile social-networking service. Using a wireless device, users can send a text message to their circle of friends, announcing that they will be at a certain coffee shop or hangout. In addition, users can be notified if friends-of-friends are within a certain vicinity. Google has not disclosed how it will incorporate the Dodgeball offering into its services.
Google bought Android in July for an undisclosed sum. The upstart adds to Google's collection of talent and technology that it hopes to apply to this critical segment. "Wireless is the next frontier in search," says Scott Ellison, analyst at research outfit IDC.
Rubin isn't the only well-known Silicon Valley veteran joining Google via Android. Others coming over include Andy McFadden, who worked with Rubin at WebTV before helping develop the all-in-one set-top box for Moxi Digital; Richard Miner, former vice-president of technology and innovation at telecom outfit Orange before joining Android; and Chris White, who spearheaded the design and interface for WebTV in the late 1990s, before helping to found Android.
This news.. really left the world thinking.. like why did Google buy a software company?? and that too a company who was specialized in Mobile OS??
The first rumours started when the Google VP spoke saying that the mobile market was not grasping the power of Internet.
On this a comment appeared here.. saying this..
Google's VP of Operations, Urs Hoelze, told Ireland's SiliconRepublic.com that the mobile phone industry is not "grasping the potential of the Internet" due to standards and conflicting platforms.
Hoelze said, "What�s holding back the big revolution is that every device is different. There is software out there for at least 300 different platforms and that�s not a good situation and that will prevent the emergence of widely used applications."
Even with these issues, he's "bullish" on mobile. �The web part of it is becoming better and people will start using it more and more from wherever they are � searches are basically question answering functions. Just as we see broadband users make more frequent use of search than modem users, the more simplistic it becomes to access the information you want wherever you are that will lead to the big explosion in mobile connectivity.�
I wonder if GPhone is in the works. (-:
This is how the gPhone was launched in the rumours..
Hello Everyone..
I, Sunit!!... Sunit Pareek.. hereby announce the launch of this new blog after my previous ones.. i.e. CorpoAlert & Sms Bomb.
This will be a blog on all the gPhone & Android related info. For being clear.. and more understandable, I will be starting right from the beginning.. i.e. the time when the first rumours regarding this phone started.... What is this.. and everything.. Just keep reading..
Hope to receive enough co-operations..
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