Did Verizon’s Google Tablet Just Pour Cold Water On The Verizon iPhone Rumors?
May 12, 2010 by VC-List.com
The Wall Street Journal has just put up a very short post indicating that Verizon is working with Google on a tablet computer. But this isn’t speculation or a flimsy report based on unnamed sources — Verizon’s CEO Lowell McAdam told the paper as much today.
This move is apparently a part of the carrier’s plan to match the deal rival AT&T has with Apple for the iPad. McAdam calls tablets the “next big wave of opportunities.“
Just as interesting is this part of the story: “He said the work on a tablet is part of a deepening relationship between the largest U.S. wireless carrier by subscribers and Google, which has carved out a space in mobile devices with its Android operating system.” Given the growing rumors that Verizon is gearing up to launch a CDMA version of the iPhone — perhaps as soon as later this year — this statement is very interesting, to say the least. Several weeks ago, multiple reports had Apple CEO Steve Jobs saying that Apple’s iPhone was at war with Google’s Android platform. Tensions between the two sides continue to rise.
You have to imagine that Apple can’t be too pleased with Verizon so publicly backing Google — though it’s not clear if the Verizon Google tablets would run Android or Google’s still-unreleased Chrome OS (Update below, it’s Android). Regardless, it will compete with the iPad.
Earlier this year, Google began posting mock-ups of what a tablet running Chrome OS might look like. The image seen above is one such mock-up. If Apple isn’t happy about Google competing with Apple in mobile phones, this is about to get a lot uglier.
The big question is: will it get ugly enough that Apple will re-up with AT&T and forget about a Verizon iPhone? Or maybe they have already, which is why McAdam would make such a pro-Google statement? The next few weeks leading up to Apple’s WWDC event in June should be interesting.
Verizon declined to say who would manufacturer such a tablet or when it would be released. But more details are apparently coming later this week. We can probably expect to hear more about this at Google I/O next week, as well.
Update: Bloomberg got more information in confirming the news with Verizon. Apparently it will be an Android-based tablet. Yes, Apple must be pissed.
Below is a Google-made demo of what a tablet running Chrome OS could look like. Again, the Verizon tablet will apparently be Android-based, but you can get some idea of what Google is thinking with tablet-based computing.
View full post on TechCrunch
verizon wouldn't comment on that
i'd say there is no way they beat it, but if they can get close i'm not sure how apple could turn it down. remember, part of the reason at&t pays apple so much is the exclusive agreement. verizon wouldn't be getting an exclusive (and at&t obviously wouldn't have it anymore either)
It would be interesting to see if Google announces something related to this during Google I/O. I'm guessing –
1. Android 2.2 announcement with in-built Flash and big screen support.
2. Google Editions bookstore
3. A tablet announcement in partnership with HTC and Verizon Wireless. We might as well see a google.com/tablet where Google directly sells the tablet.
yeah, my n1 shits on your iphone.
Apple will end up back where they are most comfortable.. that is selling proprietary stuff that works really well because it is closed, and limited (and loved by their followers.) The problem of course, is that now they are hugely dependent on a third party service that they cannot replicate to be useful. That has got to be really uncomfortable for them.
Why is any company so opposed if their competition offers similar products with a same carrier? Com'n let the customers decide….
Yeah, this article assumes the Verizon rumor were anything but pageview trolling and wishful thinking.
It's all vaporware until it's out. That video could have been a conceptual for any tech company, any mobile carrier and, if anything, shows that they are at a very, very early stage.
No one hold their breath . . .
If the Verizon/Google Tablet comes out before the Holidays, wow! It will very interesting to see if prices for the iPad go down or maybe a new iPad with webcam comes out.
Verizon is going for the next big thing ( iphone HD ) http://www.techinfospotlight.com/2010/05/verizon-...
This looks like the final nail in the coffin for any hopes of seeing iPhone on Verizon. That's too bad
drrooollllss*
I'd like to attend, I feel it is my first step towards becoming a disruptor.
I love that the photo of the Google tablet looks like an iPad, but with a Google search screen up.