We've heard mobile phones called many things. From 'mobiles' and 'cellphones' to 'handsets' and 'handys'. Nokia has talked about 'multimedia computers'… and now Google has the 'mobile lab'.
It's just issued a statement that says its mobile lab is "a device that combines innovative hardware from a partner with software that runs on Android to experiment with new mobile features and capabilities". The mobile lab is being given to Google employees around the world so that they can test the new technology involved.
This sounds very much like the much-rumoured and long-awaited Google phone – and, if that's the case, we could see it on sale in early 2010. Current rumours seem to suggest a Google-branded HTC smartphone running Android 2.1. [Google Mobile blog]