Hello everyone, I would like to welcome you to my first blog with Juniper Research.
There have been a few reports recently about the possibility of the Google Phone getting its launch in early 2010. I’m sure that developments in this area are being very keenly watched by the handset sector. Especially if it will partner up with Google Voice, Google’s phone service which can offer US customers free unlimited calls to mobiles and landlines. If this does happen then Google could force US Network providers to drastically cut their tariff prices.
The phone itself is expected to be a stand out device, with as much as twice the power of the market leader, Apple’s iPhone. Could this be the true heir to the smartphone throne? Well the Jury’s out, but since the iPhone’s launch in June 2007 and then the updated 3GS a year later, the buzz word about every new smartphone has been “iPhone killer”. Yet the iPhone is as strong as ever with Apple shipping a record 7.4 million in the previous quarter. However this Google Phone definitely will prove to be strong competition with value for money alone a huge draw.
Google may face a number of hurdles before its launch. If it wishes the Google Phone to have a 3G connection it will need to pair up with a Network. Getting a Network to adopt the device could be a difficult one to overcome, as with Google Voice a data only plan would suffice. By removing voice and SMS services you are also lessening the potential revenue for the Network provider. On the other hand the Networks will more likely to be grabbing at the chance of having the Google Phone on their Network, just so they won’t lose out to their competitors.
Tags: 3gs, google phone, google voice, googlephone, handsets, iPhone, iphones shipped, networks, smartphones, sms services
