NYT confirms existence of Google Phone prototype

I've often expressed skepticism in the face of the Google Phone rumor, so this news stings--well, just a little. In an article on the battleground over mobile search, The New York Times confirmed the existence of the Google Phone as a prototype that the company has been showing to partners in the mobile search arena. "Google has gone so far as to build a prototype phone with its own software inside, according to one person who has seen it," the Times claims. However, the article goes on to say that, "Despite the prototype and the persistent rumors that a Google phone is imminent, few in the industry expect the company to go into the business of selling phones. Analysts are speculating that the company plans to persuade hardware manufacturers to build phones based on its software that may initially be aimed at overseas markets." So there you have it: the Google Phone exists, though you probably won't see it in stores anytime soon (i.e. ever). A Google Phone hardware spec would make sense in markets like China--where Google has a partnership with China Mobile--but the American handset market is a whole different animal.

For more on the prototype:
- see this New York Times article