Google Discusses Adding its Apps to Verizon Phones

Authored by Scott Goldberg on October 30, 2007 - 2:03pm.

New York – Google (NSDQ: GOOG), has reportedly entered talks with Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) about adding its applications on phones, sources close to the matter told Reuters today.

"There are good useful talks going on and they could result in a deal," said one source.

Discussions have centered on technology and business models like advertising-sponsored services.

Verizon Communications COO Denny Strigl said on Monday that Verizon Wireless carries out conversations with many companies, including Google, but offered no specifics.

Today France Telecom denied rumors that Orange, its mobile business, was in discussions with Google about bringing handsets running the Mountain View-based company’s software to market after an earlier Wall Street Journal report saying as much.

Google is expected to announce within the next two weeks software and services that will allow handset makers to bring the search giant’s phones to market by mid-2008. Google declined to comment today.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Google-powered phones will bring together three core competencies: Mapping (Google Maps), Social Networking (YouTube and a Facebook-rival temporarily called “Makamaka,” according to TechCrunch), and Gmail.

The biggest asset, says the report, will be Google’s plan to “open” the phone’s software, meaning independent developers will have tools to build new features for the phone.

“The most likely scenario from a Google perspective is to build some, if you will, inspirational platform [applications]; but primarily focus on getting third parties to do it because that's where the innovation will come from," said Google CEO Eric Schmidt, at the All Things Digital conference in May.