Lots of Niches

Google is rumored to be talking to France Telecom's Orange unit about a Google phone optimized to support Google search functions. In Romania, Zapp is targeting the SME space, especially frequent business travelers and expatriates, with a prepaid EVDO mobility service. The point is that Web and IP platforms, as well as open source and other Web 2.0 programming tools and concepts will enable creation of many new service niches. The Google phone might ultimately appeal to specific groups with high needs to conduct search operations when away from their PCs, sort of a new subset of the "BlackBerry" and "push email" user base.