A mobile phone powered by Google's Android software is set to hit shops in the USA in time for Christmas, and may even be on the market by October to make the most of holiday sales. The phone will be manufactured by Taiwan-based company HTC, which is one of the largest mobile phone makers globally.
The new phone will have touch screen facilities like the Apple iPhone. To unlock the Google Android phone though, you need to draw a secret shape on the screen. This helps to prevent just anyone using your phone, as you will be the only person who knows what shape to draw on the nine-square grid.
There will also be a built in compass to help you to orientate maps as you use your phone to search for that restaurant where all of your friends are. Apart from the touch screen, the phone will also slide out to reveal a full, five-row keyboard, meaning it may just pip the iPhone in the usability stakes.
Android is an open source operating system where developers can access the code and create software for the device. The ability to really personalise your phone is very much the way of the future, and Google have been responsive to creating unique applications and services for their phone.
Google currently processes up to 80 per cent of online search queries in the UK. Last quarter, they reported revenues of over £2.5billion, mainly from advertisements viewed on PCs. By producing a phone that makes the internet even more accessible, Google will find a new source of revenue in advertisements viewed on web pages on people's mobile phones.
Unfortunatly there are no specific dates on when Google's phone will be released in the UK, but we've definitely got our fingers crossed for a date early in the New Year.