Google to launch an 'open phone' coalition

Google's expected announcement today of its mobile phone effort may include a different arrangement than suggested, according to a new claim by USA Today. The paper cites sources which suggest Sprint as the confirmed US carrier; NTT DoCoMo in Japan is the other provider, the report says. In turn, Motorola and Samsung would help with the hardware side. This teamwork would create an "open phone coalition" of companies which would help develop a cross-platform mobile operating system that would not be tied to any one device or service provider.

Extra details have also appeared regarding the actual software itself, the paper adds. The phone OS would be based on Linux but would use Google services for primary navigation; a separate Java layer would allow developers to write or convert programs that would be more portable between platforms. Unlike the licensing associated with most platforms, the development kit would essentially be given away for free and eliminate the barriers of paying the cellphone OS designer or the carrier for permission to produce software.

The new report does not say whether any previously expected partners, such as Taiwan device maker HTC or T-Mobile's American division, would be included in the deal. AT&T and Verizon are said to be consciously avoiding the partnership at least in part because the service would favor Google services above others. A likely emphasis on advertising is also a concern, USA Today says.

Google's initiative is widely believed to be a shift towards an increasingly mobile customer base, which threatens to decrease Google's ad revenues should computer use flatten or decline. The company already regularly makes deals to include portable versions of its dedicated tools, such as Google Maps or YouTube.