It may not be the first place one would look to find mobile phone news, but finance website The Street has published an exclusive story saying that Google are well on their way to releasing their own Android phone complete with Google branding, which will be sold independently rather than through network operators.

Of course, both the G1 and the Magic were branded and Google supposedly had a hand in the design stage, but this new project will take it to the next level, with Google cutting out the carrier middle-man and putting their own ideas regarding an open-source handset into practice.  The manufacturing partner isn’t named, however it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine it’s HTC, but the article does mention that a Qualcomm chip will be used.

Now, assuming this article refers to a brand-new as yet unseen mobile phone which will wear Google’s name, and not a new co-project along the lines of the G1, what will it mean to the legion of Android phones about to hit the market?  If the phone is still at the design stage, then very little, as it will take sometime for the phone to become a reality, leaving Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, HTC and all the others with room to breathe.  However, if the phone was ready for the Eclair OS revision or the pre-Christmas rush, then it would be cause for concern, especially if the price was competitive.

Long time Android followers will recall that before the OS was officially released, rumours centered around the supposed GPhone – that Android was a single Google mobile phone rather than an OS for multiple handsets -so perhaps this was part of their long term strategy in the first place?  We think Google have their work cut out to build a desirable mobile phone, something which even established companies struggle to do some days, but Google are nothing if not surprising, so we will be following this story with great interest.