Industry gears up for Google 'Gphone'

Industry gears up for Google 'Gphone'


Reports suggest partnership with Sprint and T-Mobile

Google will unveil an open source mobile phone platform later today, according to multiple media reports.

The search giant is expected to lift the lid off the platform in partnership with Sprint and T-Mobile, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Google has previously partnered with handset makers to optimise its services, such as Gmail and Google Maps, for mobile phones. But the new product would be an entire platform ready to install on a mobile phone.

Reports have claimed that the platform will be Linux-based and open to software and hardware developers.

A mobile offering from Google has been mooted for months. Earlier this summer, analysts and the media reported the company was hard at work on a possible mobile phone or platform.

Google has declined to comment on reports about its mobile phone plans, saying only that it is working with handset makers and mobile providers.