Disqus
In a recent interview, Google’s CEO – Eric Schmidt, said as advertising assumes a greater role across mobile networks, consumers should receive their handsets for free. Following a speech on the theme of business innovation organized by Italian student groups and the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, he said: “It just makes sense that subsidies should increase”, as advertising rises on mobile phones.
Schmidt beliefs that mobile advertising revenues will eventually equal traditional Internet ad revenues. Google won’t be the company to give away phones itself, nor is he aware of similar plans underway from either carriers or handset manufacturers.
Of course, it’s still in the realm of visions, but who knows – it’s Google we’re talking about here. I’m sure most of us want a free, ad-supported smartphone. 
About The Author
Dusan Belic
Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.
