Even if a Google phone emerges soon, we aren't inclined to think that it will be the end result of the company's development efforts. Ever since they purchased mobile software firm Android in 2005, we have wondered how Google might use the technology.

A Computerworld report cited some of the shortcomings of efforts by other companies, and Google, with regards to privately-branded phones and networks. They noted Disney's multiple failures with its ESPN Mobile service and its sparsely populated Disney Mobile devices.

Analyst Jeff Kagan described the performance of ad-supported wireless networks over the past ten years as "not successful." This is where people may be reading too much into the idea of Google debuting a prototype ad-supported phone right now.

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