Latest Google Phone rumour is still just a rumour

It’s a good thing that “don’t be evil” is the unofficial corporate motto of Google. As the company that currently gets the most sideways glares for being a potential Big Brother, it needs to maintain as smiley a face as possible. Google products have reached their fingers deep into the daily lives of a truly staggering number of people. But these services are all delivered through machines made by other companies. Google has remained resolutely a service provider. The question “when is Google going to get into hardware?” has been asked many times, and the answer has always been “never”. Unless you ask Michael Arrington of TechCrunch, that is, who says “next year”.

What’s this now?

According to TechCrunch, we’ll be seeing a Google Phone on the market next year.  And we’re not talking about some Android device with a Google sticker on it – we’re talking about a device where every design choice comes straight from Google and carries its branding.

There has been no more information about the device – although TechCrunch has speculated that it might be a purely VoIP device that only uses data.

If you want to see some other sides, PC World have published an article on why this would be a terrible move by Google, as well as this piece from PC Mag that might as well have been called “Grrrr rar I hate you Michael Arrington!”

What we think?

How long have the rumours about Google Phones been going around? Ages. And nothing ever comes of them. The thing is that no matter how trustworthy the source is, no matter how well-supported the rumour appears to be, you have to remember that it’s a RUMOUR. And until I see an actual release from Google with pics and specs, I’ll be placing this in the “Maybe” file.

Credit for the concept picture of a Google phone at the top of the article goes to IntoMobile