Google Using OpenMoko For gPhone?

There has been a new batch of rumors swirling about Google producing a "gPhone" mobile telephone after a Reuters reporter stated High Tech Computer Corp would be designing the Linux phone for Google. A friendly penguin has told us at Phoronix that Google is looking to team up with OpenMoko for their "gPhone". Google will not be using the FIC Neo1973 GTA01, but they will be bringing the open-source OpenMoko platform to their own hardware, which looks to be manufactured through HTC, and making a few changes along the way.

The Google gPhone reportedly uses mobile advertising to credit time (gMinutes?) for phone calls and text messages, but this source did not say how Google would be handling these functions through the open-source platform or exactly how much work they are putting into OpenMoko, but is confident that OpenMoko is involved with the gPhone.

There are a few pictures of OpenMoko on the Neo1973 from our Ubuntu Live 2007 coverage.