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Brin: Google's OSes likely to converge

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Google's dual-pronged operating-system strategy will likely produce a single OS down the road, according to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Many Google observers were puzzled when the company announced plans for Chrome OS in July, coming amid growing acceptance of the company's Android operating-system project as a smartphone and Netbook OS. After all, why design an open-source operating system with the goal of reinventing the personal computing experience when you're currently developing another open-source operating system with the goal of reinventing the mobile computing experience?

Google executives, including CEO Eric Schmidt, have downplayed the conflict ever since, asking for time to let the projects evolve. And a few days after Chrome OS was revealed, Android chief Andy Rubin said device makers "need different technology for different products," explaining that Android has a lot of unique code that makes it suitable for use in a phone and Chrome has unique benefits of its own.

But Brin, speaking informally to reporters after the company's Chrome OS presentation on Thursday, said "Android and Chrome will likely converge over time," citing among other things the common Linux and Webkit code base present in both projects. More...

11-22-2009 11:09

The Google Phone Is Very Real. And It’s Coming Soon

The debate over Droid v. iPhone rages on, but lots more Android surprises are on the way. Get ready for the Google Phone. It’s no longer a myth, it’s real.

The next “super” Android device will almost certainly be a HTC phone that’s much thinner than even the Droid or iPhone – The Dragon/Passion. This is the phone the senior Android guys at Google are now carrying around and testing, at least as of a couple of weeks ago. If you’re willing to give up the Droid’s keyboard, the Dragon/Passion is going to be a really cool phone. It should be fully available very soon.

But it isn’t the Google Phone. Everything up until now has just been a warm up to the Google Phone. More...

11-18-2009 10:02

Verizon to sell 2 Google phones this year

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Verizon Wireless said on Tuesday it will sell two mobile phones with Google Inc's Android operating system this year, part of a partnership that could boost Google's efforts to challenge Apple Inc in the fast-growing smartphone market.

In a conference call on Tuesday, Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam said the partnership could result in the introduction of multiple co-developed Internet connected devices per year going forward.

The first Android phones from Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc, will support the Google Voice software application which allows consumers to make low-priced international calls and which Apple has yet to approve for its iPhone. More...

10-06-2009 10:35

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