How is the rumored 'Google Phone' different?

[johnatthebar]

I don't get it. We've all seen the posts by the blogs now about Google employees getting the 'Google Phone.' Why is it THE Google Phone? It's made by HTC and it is apparently on ATT so were not talking VOIP here (I really don't think ATT could handle that traffic right now) so why is this different than any other new Android? Awesome, don't get me wrong. What's the deal though?

I am compiling links to all the mentions of it on my blog to find a reason this is any different than Google giving their employees ATT Passions as a gift.

Am I lost?

[johnatthebar]

btw, I do get the whole Open Handset Alliance deal, I was really hoping for a VOIP type deal here...or lasers.

[TreyDaPrince]

If I had to take a guess, and that is what this is a guess, its because apple has the dubbed "iPhone" on AT&T. When you think i...anything you associate it with apple. Google wants to dub their best phone on AT&T the "Google Phone" so shoppers know this is an Android device.

So basically just another shot at the iPhone and try to take sales from them on AT&T.

And again, this is just a guess. Not even an educated guess, just a guess.

[johnatthebar]

Being G I would think they would have some level of 'wow' or 'oomph' but your idea is reasonable and your candor priceless.

[ridavid81]

i agree, how will this phone made by HTC be any different than any other android device? They will be running the same Android OS on HTC hardware. How is this an official google phone. Isn't any android phone an official google phone?

[gsontag]

The real difference? It it the GOOGLE phone. The google name will sell it.

Although i must say a google phone that is VOIP/google voice only would be very cool! if it was on verizon that is.

[gsontag]

Gizmodo just put up a little article about the google phone. They are saying that it will be sold directly from google and be on T-mobile and NOT AT&T, at least not at initial launch.

[largeselection]

I thought I read that it was going to be unlocked.

[mrd]

Based on what I've read on the tubes, from people who popped att sims into the Nexus One, it can only utilize their Edge network. Indicating that we've got a T-mob device on our hands.

Att and Tmob utilize different 3g wireless bands, so unless it's quad band it'll really be a tmob device.

Doesn't mean it won't be unlocked. Obviously the ones passed out to Goog employees were, but that doesn't say much about how the release devices will be.

If it's true that Goog sells them direct I'm curious to see what the price will be with no carrier subsidy. As for rate plans, does anyone allow for data only sims? Specifically does tmob? I guess you can get one for a laptop data card.

That's my best guess if this is to be the Voip / Data only device we've heard rumors about. 5gb of data per month for $50, and ability to use Voip over the 3g.

[TreyDaPrince]

Originally Posted by mrd

Based on what I've read on the tubes, from people who popped att sims into the Nexus One, it can only utilize their Edge network. Indicating that we've got a T-mob device on our hands.

Att and Tmob utilize different 3g wireless bands, so unless it's quad band it'll really be a tmob device.

Doesn't mean it won't be unlocked. Obviously the ones passed out to Goog employees were, but that doesn't say much about how the release devices will be.

If it's true that Goog sells them direct I'm curious to see what the price will be with no carrier subsidy. As for rate plans, does anyone allow for data only sims? Specifically does tmob? I guess you can get one for a laptop data card.

That's my best guess if this is to be the Voip / Data only device we've heard rumors about. 5gb of data per month for $50, and ability to use Voip over the 3g.

Which means it will BOMB and not sell. AC do us a favor and cut back on the Google Phone anticipation. Its going to be a dud!