You can find rumors and speculation running rampant across the Internet on what may be the next big player in the $127 billion wireless market: Google [source: CNN Money]. Some believe Google will soon offer a phone running on a custom-built operating system (OS), with software like Google Calendars, Google Maps, Google Earth and Gmail -- Google's webmail -- along with standard phone functions. Others believe that Google will only offer the OS itself to existing cell-phone manufacturers, or that the company will become the next phone network administrator, competing directly against companies like AT&T and T-Mobile.

WWhat does the Google Phone look like?
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Will there be a Google Phone?
It seems like the only people who know for sure are those who work for Google, and they aren't talking. But that hasn't stopped analysts, journalists and bloggers from writing about what they think Google has planned for the mobile device market. But before we venture into wild guesswork, let's look at what we know for a fact:

  • Google purchased Android, a software company that makes software for mobile devices.
  • Google filed a patent for a mobile payment processing system called Gpay.
  • Google purchased Zingku and Jaiku, two companies that provide social networking services. Zingku offers applications for text messaging, sharing pictures, instant messaging and other networking features. Jaiku is a microblog site like Twitter, allowing users to post and read messages with friends.
  • Google has expressed interest in bidding in the FCC's upcoming 700-MHz auction with the minimum reserve of $4.6 billion and the stipulation that the FCC agree to its "open devices" terms. This auction will sell off commercial blocks of bandwidth in the 700 MHz frequency. Google executives say they want the mobile phone market to become more competitive, allowing customers to buy any handset and use it with any phone service or operating system.
  • Google is working on creating mobile device versions of its applications.
  • Google continues to lead the market of Internet-based advertising.

Video Gallery: Google on the Brain
Join Marshall Brain as he discusses the upcoming Google Phone in this HowStuffWorks video.

­­­In the next section, we'll look at some common Google Phone rumors.