It seems that rumours about the Google gPhone are simply refusing to die. This time, it’s Robert X. Cringley stirring up the pot with his latest column where he suggests that Google will release not one but two gPhones.
The first will land in September and the second will likely follow sometime after Christmas 2008. The first one will be a higher-end model that will have a QWERTY keyboard and a flip-up display. It’s not so clear what form factor the second will take but it could sell for less than USD$100!
Samsung is going to manufacture both (rather than HTC around which rumours had swirled earlier) and both GSM and W-CDMA versions should be available. Google is apparently already in talks with both T-Mobile and Verizon to carry the gPhones.
If this turns out to be true, I wonder how it will sit with members of the Open Handset Alliance (which include device manufacturers such as HTC, Motorola and Samsung).