NOTE: The above is NOT a picture of the Google Phone. Not even a mockup. Not even a photoshopped, fake ‘concept’. An HTC phone with a Google browser window in, running a Windows mobile platform…

After just yesterday an HTC insider was reported to have sent CrunchGear ‘confirmation’ (all unofficial of course) that Google is indeed working on a ‘gPhone’ as it’s been dubbed, more sketchy details appear to be surfacing. I’m not going to dive in and yell ‘liar’ or back up what anyone says, I’m gonna present the facts as they arive so you can decide more easily for yourself. You hardly want me telling you what to think. You’ll just want to disagree, anyway.

- In 2005, Google acquired a mobile software company, Android, founded by CEO Andy Rubin, creator of ‘Danger’. Naturally, this was all very hush-hush, and whilst at Google, Andy and his team developed a ‘Linux-based mobile device OS (no surprise) which they’re currently shopping around to handset makers and carriers’, presumably to create open, adaptable base on top of which development could ‘truly’ begin. Great Google integration, realtime position tracking (think GPS but far more fancy-schmancy… the ability to send you coupon codes belonging to every store on the block) and a whole bucketload of innovative (we’re talking Google here) new features to boot.

- Flash forward to June ‘06. People are starting to think the Google Phone might never surface. Some hopefuls still straggle on, but the best anyone can dig up are LG phones with pathetic Google integration. Go figure.

- December ‘06 and Om Malik has caught winf that Google may be collaborating with HTC and Orange - something I still personally believe is the best bit of solid, reliable data we’ve got yet. Google IS working with mobile handset developers and mobile phone networks. It’s quite possible that they ARE developing software to run on a mobile device. Who says there’ll just be ONE gPhone though? Why not a universal mobile OS?

What would I like to believe? I’d like to think Google’s working on a realtime, location-based feedback phone. I wouldn’t be surprised of Larry and Sergey have thousands of incredible ideas buzzing around their incredible brains. But do YOU think Google is really working on a mobile device? Maybe not even a phone… Let’s wait and see how things play out.