gPhone Applications

Many opportunities exist to have the user store their account information for web services in the gPhone, and interact while mobile. The rise of video and social media provide a wide variety of opportunity to add value to the device while still relying on its core services.

Already mentioned is Skype, the leading Voice over IP application. The inclusion of this application fulfills a requirement for the marketability to this phone, but we shouldn't rule out providing the ability of users to choose their Voice over IP provider. Giving the user the ability to choose the VoIP provider of their choice, independent of the method of WiMax/WiFi would be ideal. However, when marketing to specific companies, it may become necessary to set different versions of the device to lock in to specific carrier's networks for the sales agreement to be attractive to those companies.

Outside of the voice and data communications applications, the abilities of this device are limited by the Internet itself. The rise of social websites offer a unique ability for people to stay connected to these networks when mobile, and to access others and update their own personal portals. Sites such as MySpace would be an ideal candidate for offerings in this area.

Online video and pictures are also a rapidly expanding market. With the gPhone, users would not only be able to view and interact with media posted to services like YouTube and Picasa Web Albums, but would be able to shoot their own video and upload their contributions while mobile. A new class of grassroots news reporting may easily develop from this capability, providing mass user-generated content and a wide degree of coverage. Aspiring journalists could easily be paid for their media with Google Checkout.

Local shopping (the return of Froogle!) has great possibilities with the gPhone, as the on-board camera and bar-code reading ability make instant price comparisons with local stores a snap.

Due to the ease of connecting the device to the Internet, updates and new application offerings can be pushed out to the devices without issue. By having a wide catalog available to users, each device can be ideally configured to mirror the desired use by any user. This high degree of compatibility and ease of expansion into value-adding services guarantee a positive experience for the user.