Sprint Joins Verizon in Google Phone Talks

Long-rumored gPhone may be unveiled shortly
By Jim O'Neill,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 31, 2007 12:48 PM CDT
Sprint Joins Verizon in Google Phone Talks
The exterior of Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. is seen Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)   (Associated Press)

Following up on earlier reports that Google was in intense talks with Verizon about building a phone based on Google software, the Wall Street Journal reports that Sprint Nextel is also talking to the search giant. Google is expected to reveal its gPhone in the next two weeks, and a deal with either wireless company might bring phones to consumers by mid-2008.

A gPhone would bring new apps and features to consumers and, probably, lower-cost handsets. Sprint already is partnering with Google on software for WiMAX networks under development in the US. Before any deal is made, Google will have to satisfy carrier concerns over privacy, security and, perhaps most important, revenue sharing in an era when their call income is dropping. (More Google stories.)

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