gPhone in Two Weeks: Reports
Obviously this is a rumor, and should be treated as such. But reports from India, where Google is reportedly trying to strike an exclusive deal with one of the carriers, indicate that the gPhone will launch in two weeks, in both Europe and the U.S.
Sources close to the development said a
simultaneous launch across the US and Europe is expected, and
announcements would be sent to media firms in India and other parts of
the world. US regulatory approval, which is expected soon, is the only
hurdle that Google is waiting to cross, they added. Google plans to
invest $7-8 billion for its global telephony foray.
In India, it is also believed to be in talks with Indian providers to offer data and content and platforms including Instant Messaging (IM) and Search functions. However, these could not be confirmed.
One other big obstacle to the gPhone: the name has already been applied for as a trademark,
and not by Google. Micro-g LaCoste, Inc., a company in Lafayette,
Colorado, applied back on March 5 for a gPhone trademark that would represent
an accelerometer for use in monitoring earthquake and other tectonic
movements. Shades of the battle Apple and Cisco had over the iPhone trademark.
