Google to make gPhone announcement with 2 weeks

"Google-powered phones to market by the middle of next year"

30 October 2007 11:12 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that "Google Inc. is close to unveiling its long-planned strategy to shake up the wireless market".

"People familiar with the matter" are attributed to providing this insider knowledge that sees Google's applications and services as accessible on mobiles are they are on the web on an "open" operating system.

The article says that Google wants to make it easier for "cellphone" customers to get a variety of extra services on their phones - from maps to social-networking features to video-sharing and says:

"Within the next two weeks, Google is expected to announce advanced software and services that would allow handset makers to bring Google-powered phones to market by the middle of next year."

It's known that Google has approached several handset manufacturers about the "gPhone" concept - strongly rumoured partners include HTC and LG.