May 25, 2012 - 05:30 PM EDT — AAPL: 562.29 (-3.03, -0.54%) | NASDAQ: 2837.53 (-1.85, -0.07%)

Reports: Google to launch ‘Google Audio’ U.S. music service, Google-branded Android phone

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 · 12:53 pm · 29 Comments

“Is Google gunning to become the next Apple? The search company is reportedly set to unveil its own music service and is also working with a smartphone manufacturer on an own-brand Android phone,” Daniel Ionescu reports for PC World.

MacDailyNews Take: The next Apple is Apple.

Ionescu continues, “Two separate reports from TechCrunch and The Street say that the search company is developing a music service, dubbed Google Audio, and a smartphone that will not be sold through traditional wireless carriers.”

“Michael Arrington of TechCrunch quotes multiple sources, saying that Google has ‘spent the last several weeks securing content for the launch of the [music] service from the major music labels,’” Ionescu reports. “Google Audio would be available for U.S. users, but it is unclear whether it will be a download or streaming service.”

Ionescu reports, “In a separate report, Scott Moritz of The Street, quotes analyst Ashok Kumar, saying that Google is also working to develop its own Google-branded smartphone, which will be sold through retailers, not through wireless carriers, by the end of this year.”

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: RIM, Nokia, Microsoft, and what’s left of Palm should be concerned.

Schmidt should have been gone the day Android was announced. – MacDailyNews Take, July 10, 2009

Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, mole. – MacDailyNews Take regarding the August 03, 2009 announcement that Google CEO Eric Schmidt had stepped down from Apple’s Board of Directors.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Shinobi" for the heads up.]

Categories: All Sites, News

Thank You for supporting MacDailyNews!

♥ Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended for Mac - Student and Teacher Edition DVD (65171323) only $249!
♥ Blowout: Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro i7/4Core/2.0GHz/4GB/500GB (MC721LL/A) only $1,549.99 + Free Shipping from MacMall
♥ Mac Madness Save 25% on Parallels Desktop 7!
♥ 15% Off Compatible Ink. 10% Off All Others (excludes OEMs). Free Shipping over $55. Coupon: 123BLOSSOM, Expires 6.18.12
♥ Save up to 60% at the Hammacher Schlemmer Special Values Sale-While supplies last.
♥ Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5 - New! Simply Smarter Speech Recognition
♥ Up to 30% OFF Accessories from Verizon Wireless
♥ Limited Time Offer: Get free ZAGGsmartbuds when you buy a ZAGGsparq!

Comment Feed

29 Comments

« Previous 1 2

Demon

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 2:31 pm · Reply

Other then Internet Search and Search Advertising everything else Google has done is half asses and well incomplete. Google looses interest and reminds me an ADD 6 year old. The ADD 6 year old as a better chance of growing up to be a productive & creative Adult. Google just wants to control a market Like they do with internet search advertising When it doesn’t happen right away their interest starts fading very quickly and then they scrap the project in favor of their next big idea that is going to take over a market.

Other then Search, Search Ads, YouTube (which was huge when they purchased it) and Google Maps/Google Earth (which are just extensions of Internet Search) what has google done and stuck to when it failed to become the dominate thing. Exception being Google mail, Google Voice started out as another service from a company they purchased then abandoned development of the service then took was was left of it and started Google Voice with it. Android set on a shelf till Apple showed that a New player in the smart phone market was possible and could change the paradigm. Then Schmidt got iPhone Envy and pull the old Smart Phone OS off the shelf and started Android with it. But Android would have failed if Apple had not already rattled the industry with new paradigms and inspired HTC to get in the game and take a chance on it’s own name and own ideas. Apple opened the door for HTC which took a chance on Android. If HTC had not taken the chance and done their own phone with Android with the G1. No other cell phone maker would have taken that chance either. HTC would still be doing Carrier OEM Phones and no one would know who HTC is. The Big Name Phone makers still would not have been near ready to come out with Android phones. Google would have let Android sit in Open Source and unused. Phone Makers would still be in the we are developing an android phone phase with no planned release date and no details on their Android phone. Palm would have even just given up the ghost and imploded.
hardmanb

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 2:40 pm · Reply

Google would introduce even more Android phones into an Android Market share that is already fragmented by different hardware, carriers and components.

The competitors playing catch-up and feature wars are hopelessly weak in the face of Apple’s total integration.

Apple apps rule. One store, one phone. Compatibility and ease of choice.
bon

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 2:40 pm · Reply

@predrag

There is one phone in the US that comes without excessive carrier branding. Can you guess which one it is?
bon

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 2:48 pm · Reply

(Hint: it’s not an Android phone)
Predrag

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 3:07 pm · Reply

Indeed there is. What’s most ironic is that the phone in question is the most heavily subsidised device in the US, possibly on the planet. Monday’s financial report from Apple revealed that the average wholesale price for their phone was $600. If consumers are paying $200 for this phone, then carrier is getting the remaining $400 in installments over the next two to three years.

Now, if any other smartphone is subsidised to the tune of about $200, which is normally recovered over about 18 to 20 months, it implies that out of your $70 per month minimum voice+data plan, some $10 goes towards your phone. This also means that the iPhone customer must remain on AT&T for at least 40 months in order for AT&T to recover the up-front subsidy. This explains why they are the only carrier in the US. Even if people buy a newer iPhones, their old ones remain on AT&T, recovering that subsidy and eventually, making greater profits for the carrier.
Scott B.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 3:08 pm · Reply

Ok I look at this and then take it with a grain of salt, Considering that the sources of the Article are connected with each other.

Proof is “M.Arrington” is a untrustworthy Apple Hater and has used TechCrunch to push his hate or anything that has to do with attacking Apple, so does “Scott Moritz”.

As for analyst “Ashok Kumar” well you folks can look up his hate for Apple yourself.

Not saying it couldn’t be true, but all the well know Haters of Apple are going to come out more in droves to try to hit Apple with negative publicity due to Apples Stellar Report.

M.Arrington is not trustworthy and will use anything to further his Anti Apple Agenda.

It’s so funny how all the low life bottom feeders come out when a company does well and is a threat to a project or certain belief system they have be promoting and reporting about for a period of time..

Such Drama
Predrag

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 3:13 pm · Reply

This would also explain why AT&T would NOT allow unlocking of the iPhones yet (and it allows unlocking of ALL other phones, even providing instructions upon request). It has been only about 28 months since the original iPhone was released. The subsidy model on it ($150 upfront subsidy, plus $7 per month for two years) means that they still have a few months to go before even the earliest original iPhones are fully paid off. The 3G, with its traditional subsidy ($400 upfront, no monthly kickback) has almost two more years (for the early adopters).

If AT&T manages to convince Apple to extend the exclusive agreement for next 3-5 years, then AT&T would be able to feel comfortable letting customers unlock the old iPhones for the early customers, or for the oldest models.
DogGone

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 3:50 pm · Reply

Google have the skill set to become a major player in OS and applications. Really they are gunning for M$ not Apple. In many ways they are emulating Apple in the turn of the decade. They are developing a new OS based on unix, developing applications that can exploit peripheral devices like phones and MP3 players whilst making lots of money out of their core business. The difference between M$ and Google is that Google have smart people and a good work structure.

At some point Google will press hard with their OS for low end PCs. They may not make money on it like M$ do, but they will break M$ hold on the market. Next or at the same time will be Apps that replace Office functionality.

Apple in the meantime will have to stay ahead of the curve and make money on mid to high end devices and through their increased share gradually reduce prices to squeeze out low end manufacturers. It will take time but they have shown with the 3M macs sold this quarter that the public are moving Apple’s way.
MacSmiley

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 8:50 pm · Reply

Giving Google access to 100% of my data with a “free” OS is much too costly in the end. All your hard drive searchable on Google Search.

Not me! I’m sticking with Apple!