The Google Phone to be launched in January 2010. Google confirms: a device is in testing

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Not long after that rumor about the Google Phone being “very real” appeared, now several Google employees have started saying they already have the handset.

Reportedly, the Google Phone is made by HTC, runs Android 2.1 and it might be launched as soon as January 2010.

Leslie Hawthorn, Program Manager for Google’s Open Source Team, says that the phone is “beautiful”, while Jason Howell mentions that it’s compatible with AT&T, has a capacitive display and its “homescreen has new visual enhancements like animated desktop wallpaper.”

These Tweets aside, Google has just confirmed that it gave a mysterious device to employees, for testing purposes:

We recently came up with the concept of a mobile lab, which is a device that combines innovative hardware from a partner with software that runs on Android to experiment with new mobile features and capabilities, and we shared this device with Google employees across the globe. This means they get to test out a new technology and help improve it.

Unfortunately, because dogfooding is a process exclusively for Google employees, we cannot share specific product details.

Well, if the device is indeed coming out in January, Google may announce it before the end of 2009. Until then, let’s remember what Andy Rubin stated not long ago: “we’re not making hardware”. Sure enough, they aren’t, but if HTC makes it for them and only the Google logo appears on said hardware, it’s almost like they did it themselves.

Via Tech Crunch