Google Phone coming in September?

A tale seemingly older than time itself, the Google Phone has taken its place in the tech canon as the first great rumor of the post-iPhone era. And if recent rumblings are to be believed, the phone will soon be more than just a rumor. According to the Business Standard, Google is getting ready for the worldwide launch of the mythical phone, which could come as soon as next month.

Allegedly, the search giant is currently in discussions with Indian mobile operators Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, with intent to launch in India in September. Sources close to Google say that a simultaneous North American and European launch is expected to follow, with the company currently waiting for federal regulatory approval before rolling out the handset in the U.S market. The Bharti Airtel and Vodafone negotiations are said to encompass mobile data, IM and search solutions as well.

So, could it be that we're going to see the Google Phone at long last? Perhaps, though it remains to be seen whether this is the Google Phone or simply, a Google Phone. While it's certainly exciting to think that we're about to see a handset designed for Google Apps from the ground up, it's equally possible that this will turn out to be just another device with pre-loaded Google applications.

For more on the possible Google Phone launch:
- read this Business Standard article