Google Not Making a Cell Phone, Just the Software

The first “official” details about Google Phone Software and Android, the open mobile platform from WP:

1. Motorola, Samsung, HTC and and LG Electronics have agreed to use Google’s software in some of their phones.

2. Google Phone Software will be available only in second half of 2008.

3. Google won’t be making the phones, nor does it plan to stamp its prized brand on the devices. Consumers will have to buy a new phone to get the Google software because the bundle wasn’t made for existing handsets.

4. Speech recognition and voice based search will be powered by Nuance software that also makes Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

5. Google’s phone software will be free unlike Palm, Nokia, Microsoft of RIM (BlackBerry) who charge handset makers to install their operating systems.

6. The prices of smart phones running Google Phone software would be less since manufacturers won’t have to pay for software.

Full story on WashingtonPost.com and Google Press