Google Phone Announcement After Labor Day?

Google uses an in-house blend of Ubuntu Linux (”Goobuntu”), so it comes as no surprise that the OS for the upcoming Google phone will be a Linux variant. What’s surprising is that it could be announced as early as after Labor Day. Apparently, it’s been in stealth development since 2005.

We understand that the “Gphone OS” began development after Google’s very quiet 2005 acquisition of mobile software company Android, started by Danger cofounder and former-prez / CEO Andy Rubin. At Google, Andy’s team has developed a Linux-based mobile device OS (no surprise) which they’re currently shopping around to handset makers and carriers on the premise of providing a flexible, customizable system — with really great Google integration, of course.

As for the timeframe on this thing, we keep hearing Google will announce its mobile plans some time post-Labor Day (September 3rd); from what we’ve heard Google isn’t necessarily working on hardware of its own, but is definitely working with OEMs and ODMs to get them to put the Gphone OS on upcoming devices.

Google VP Marissa Mayer says Google’s seeing more mobile traffic than ever. Looks like they’re ready to ride the wave. Microsoft beware: if the Gphone OS is so near, can the Google OS be far behind?