Google Phone Unveiled

The new Google open-source package will actively allow users to build their own mobile cell phones.

Google Phone is the long-awaited wireless product that many have been hoping for, but the search giant has formally announced an ambitious piece of software newly intended to make cell phones cheaper and with full Web browsing technologies.

First, there is no "gphone" or "Google Phone", as in a mobile phone that's similar to the Apple iPhone. Instead, Google has gone open-source offering free software to anyone who wants it. The open-source license will enable developers to view the source code which is promised to be a powerful platform. The software will power thousands of different phone models.

HTC said that the new software will permit consumers to create a new mobile industry with a new line of class phones. The new phones that will operate on Google's new software will be available May 2008.

Eight carriers have willingly agreed to ship handsets based on the Google platform which include Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, China Mobile, Telefonica and Telecom Italia.