Google phone or Dell phone (and microwaved Twinkies)

Will Dell call Google in this your Thursday IT Blogwatch? Or will the rumors be debunked before we get to Friday? Not to mention a great deal of smoke ...

Dan Frommer is hopeful:

The search giant and computer maker are working together on a smartphone that they'll launch at next month's 3GSM mobile conference in Barcelona, MarketingWeek reports, citing "senior industry sources."

If true, the deal makes a lot of sense. Dell's Axim line of PDAs were gorgeous gadgets, but were crippled by lousy Windows Mobile software and the lack of a cellphone/mobile broadband connection. [read more]

John Murrell says, "Good Morning, Sources":

[M]ore interesting than what Dell’s getting out of is what it might be getting into -- namely a partnership with Google to produce a smartphone based on the Android open-source platform. That’s the rumor o’ the day, prompted by a report in Marketing Week that cites the always dependable “senior industry sources.” These sources say plans for this challenger to Apple’s iPhone could be revealed as early as next month’s 3GSM telecom conference in Barcelona. [read more]

Ed Hardy sees the difference this time:

Previous rumors have always assumed this device would would run Windows Mobile. If this latest report is correct, then Dell has decided to go in a different direction: Android.

Android is being put together by the Open Handset Alliance, a collection of 30+ companies, including Intel, TI, Sprint, T-Mobile, HTC, Motorola, Samsung, and Wind River, but being led by Google. [read more]

Doug "Anything's Possible" Aamoth flutters by:

Is it possible that Dell might just make it’s own Android-compatible phone? Yes, sure. Will it be an actual Google-branded phone? Who knows. Seems like kind of an odd choice since Google’s not often too interested in dealing with hardware. [read more]

Erica Ogg says they're taking it to the next level:

Dell and Google do have an established relationship through the Google Toolbar that's available on Dell PCs, notes industry analyst Roger Kay. "Google has already done the work on Android. A more formal partnership would certainly be easy enough to establish," he said. Considering that, Kay says he judges the likelihood of a coming Google/Dell announcement to be "fairly high." [read more]

Electronista casts an e-vote:

Insiders at Google have allegedly denied any near-term announcements. Nonetheless, previous high-profile reports have alluded to Dell's return to smartphones in the near future, with former Motorola mobile chief Ron Garriques said to be spearheading the revival of handhelds at Dell following the slow death of the Axim PDA. [read more]

Cyril lacks cynicism:

By jumping into the handset market, Dell could attempt to steal some thunder from Apple's iPhone. This wouldn't be the first time the PC maker tried to compete on Apple's turf outside the computer market, either: Dell produced MP3 players for some time after the iPod began to gather steam, although it gave up on that market a couple of years ago. [read more]

But our very own Mike Elgan knows why the rumor is false:

I find this news hard to believe for the following reasons:

1. Google historically doesn't partner with companies on the co-development of hardware ...
2. If they did, Dell would be the wrong partner. ...
3. Google is positioning itself as a cell phone platform and application vendor, with Android. ...

[read more]

And finally... odes de twinkies. And don't miss the related radiation test ...

Buffer overflow:

• Chris Nerney: Your Vote Counts -- Or Maybe Not
• Paul McNamara: ICANN moves to end 'domain tasting'
• Bernard Golden: The Social Networking Dilemma
• Coding Horror: What's Your Backup Strategy?
• Dennis Yang: Lawyers Work Hard To Protect Us From Grand Theft Auto's Hot Coffee Mod. Your Cut? $5.
• Nicholas Carr: A revolution is taking shape
• Christopher Null: Gateway Launches First Dual HD DVD/Blu-ray PCs

Other Computerworld bloggers

• Mike Elgan: Why the Dell/Google phone rumor is false
• Shark Tank: Wish you were here
• Michael Farnum: Machismo equals malware
• Barbara Krasnoff: Zenware: Back to basics?
• Mark Hall:Planning with uncertainty
• Douglas Schweitzer: First real cyberwarriors class graduated last month
• Frankly Speaking: Loafing no more?
• Mark Hall: Mobility onslaught on IT explodes
• Shark Bait: Who needs server room cooling ...

Computerworld editor Joyce Carpenter compiled IT Blogwatch today. Pretty soon now, regular Blogwatcher Richi Jennings will return .

Previously in IT Blogwatch

• Trend Micro bites Barracuda (and wakka wakka)
• Cisco Switch (and Mw: 3 months)
• Speaking of search (and Web 2.0 flowchart)