Surge of interest in Google mobile handset design

Growing speculation about what the Google phone might look like has been circulating this morning, after the revelation that one could be launched before Christmas.

While it is not yet clear who is designing the phone, reports today suggest that it will aim to grab a slice of the £5.4bn phone advertising market.

According to reports this morning, the search engine giant is designing a handset customised to display its products, including e-mail and Google maps.

An own-branded Google-designed handset would compete head-on with Apple’s much-publicised iPhone, which launches in the UK before Christmas. However, the distinct brand positions of Apple and Google suggest that their target markets would be quite different.

Nicolas Roope, creative director of Poke, says any Google phone is likely to be pitched at a wider audience than the iPhone, while retaining an aspirational feel.

‘I think Google will probably de-slick it a little compared to Apple’s phone so that it will cut across economic divides, but still look as elegant. If I were Google I would try and drop some of the references of the Apple phone and make it deliberately accessible,’ he says.

A spokesman from Google UK declined to comment. ‘We do not comment on rumour or speculation,’ he says.