

Rediff lends credulity to GooglePhone scuttlebutt. Within a fortnight, it says, Google will announce the rumored handset, and is already in talks with providers.

"Sources close to the development said a simultaneous launch across the US and Europe is expected, and announcements would be sent to media firms in India and other parts of the world. US

regulatory approval, which is expected soon, is the only hurdle that

Google is waiting to cross, they added. Google plans to invest $7-8

billion for its global telephony foray."

The first subsidy-related chatter is coming out of India, of all places, where it's thought giants like Bhati and Vodafone Essar are vying for a deal. Locally, however, all eyes will doubtless be on the 700 MHz spectrum sale, by which Google could bypass the cellular networks entirely in everyone's fantasy telecom world.

Forget iPhone, GPhone is here [Rediff]