Mountain View (CA) - Google has rolled out the red carpet and lifted up the curtain, finally making an official announcement about its plans to foray into mobile territory.

The search giant announced today that it is working on a software package for cell phone manufacturers that allows users to have more seamless access to various software, including Google programs.

Google calls it the mobile "software stack", and it will have immediate availability to mobile versions of Google search, Google Maps, and Google Products.  Additionally, the operating system software will be free, a big change from the current oligopoly of mobile OS makers that charge handset manufacturers various licensing fees.

Google's platform will also be built on an open-source basis, allowing independent developers to create their own array of applications and games at a much less restrictive cost.

Google has already struck deals with HTC, LG Electronics, Motorola, and Samsung to include its software in some of their upcoming phones.  Additionally, Sprint and T-Mobile have agreed to provide service for the phones in the US.  Google says phones with the software built-in will be available by the middle of next year.

Other competitors in the mobile operating system market include Microsoft, Research in Motion, Palm, and Nokia's Symbian.

A software development tool kit for Google's new platform is planned to be available by next week.

Jupiter Research vice president Michael Gartenberg told the Associated Press this is a cataclysmic move for mobile phones but it's still just the beginning.  "This is a shot that is going to be heard around the world, but it's just the first shot in what is going to be a very protracted battle in the next frontier of the mobile Web," he said.

Fanboy

Nov 05, 2007 12:12     

Amen! I hate the software on all cell phones I've owned - (1) motorola, (1) LG, (2) Samsung, (1) Nokia. Service providers being T-mobile & Verizon. I'm glad that their may finally be an opportunity for a BETTER and free alternative for the carriers to use. Too bad the iPhone is still pretty much closed. Call me what you will but I freaking love Google. I want to have Google's babies. HA! Seriously though, what they do for the tech community, consumers in particular, in terms of open sourcing and providing free alternatives is absolutely astounding. I wish more companies would give back to the customers/users/community as much as they have. Thanks Google.

Phil report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

only problem

Nov 05, 2007 12:48     

The only problem is I don't want ads all over my phone and that is what google is proposing to make it free. Also don't be fooled by googles nice up frontness. Google is the anti-christ of the software world. Last thing I want them doing is controlling everything software related.
Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Cell phones getting better but not there yet.

Nov 05, 2007 13:14     

Maybe this will help cell phones become cheaper and make phones universal. The only thing I hate is how manufactures will put features on their phones but companies like Sprint will disable them. For example I have a Treo 700wx and Sprint saw fit to disable MMS messaging. I had to install a hack just to re-enable this feature. On another Sprint phone I had the phone had WiFi but again Sprint chose to disable this feature. I think the U.S. cell phone indistry needs to be overhauld. When I lived in Japan for a few months, I was amazed at how there cell phone indistry worked. There you buy a phone and then take it to a service provider and activate it. No contracts no termination fees and unlimited any time minutes for under $30 in most cases depending on provider and if you do sign a contract or not. If you sign a contract they will discount the monthly service fees.

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FanBoy/2

Nov 05, 2007 15:01     

I really Google. I use their search engine all the time. It would be neat to have a Google phone. :) It would be neat to have a phone that is as easy to use as the Google search site. :)
TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

G-Phone

Nov 05, 2007 15:29     

They are great. At least their respect their customers, and give great services unlike apple that destroys $600 phones.
Rob report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Requirement

Nov 05, 2007 16:44     

Google should require that each phone that uses its software has a usb port, none of this proprietary crap. I have a chocolate and music, but no i cant put my music onto my phone, i have to rebuy the music from verison if i want to hear it on my phone.
rico report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Some short-term pain expected

Nov 05, 2007 17:56     

Another platform is going to make things even more confusing for consumers. Hopefully there is some shakeout of the aging and weaker proprietary platforms in the next year or two. It may also cause the survivors to open up their platforms more which would be better for smaller developers.
jhansonxi report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Yay!

Nov 05, 2007 18:13     

The mobile phone market really needs some competition, I just "upgraded" from Palm to WinDoze More-Bile 6, and it's _awful_.
wpns report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Mobile phone is upgrading fast.

Nov 05, 2007 19:51     

It is good to have another competitor in the mobile phone industry especially in the PDA phone segment. Palm is slick and good to use for business but it lacks the multimedia punch. RIM is doing a good job for those management people but not for the average Joe. Windows Mobile is just a joke especially with the user experience. Symbian is only good for the normal mobile phones at the moment. Today, the best operating system is still Apple's OS X from user experience and performance to the creativity and cool factors. And it will be opened up "officially" soon. By the so many hacks, there are tones of software porting from the Linux and FreeBSD world. (p.s. There are even Chinese and Japanese input and display support already)

PoorPoorGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Google sucks....

Nov 05, 2007 20:35     

Google sucks.
Stephen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

WinMobil killer

Nov 05, 2007 22:25     

I read on /. that this move is to kill MS windows mobile. Still quite not sure their direction. Maybe kill Apple as well... let see.. so much yet to come.
Alien report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

finally!

Nov 06, 2007 02:45     

i wont have to pay for subscription awful java based MSN! assuming the unified architecture means there will be an uptake of homebrew developers :p
skythra report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

problem is not software, but service providers

Nov 06, 2007 08:59     

All mobile service providers want to nickle and dime you for everything you use the phone for. .15 for an IM, charge you if you want to watch an online video, little or no voip capabilities in phones, possibile video conferencing in phones, switch to wifi when it is present. All this are technically possible but mobile providers don't want you to have it or nickle and dime for using it. Google has to roll out their gphones in order to compete or acquire one of the telecom companies and roll out their services for flat fee or with ad based.

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