Google mobile OS almost ready?

We've already heard lots of rumours and chatter about Google browsers, Google operating systems and Google Phones but we haven't seen much evidence yet that any of these projects really exists.

However, Engadget today wrote a number of very trustworthy sources claim Google's mobile platform is almost ready and will be announced within a couple of days.

The gadget site claims Google started developing a mobile operating system in 2005, after they've acquired mobile software company Android. This OS is based on Linux and obviously features great integration of Google search and other applications from Google.

As for the timeframe on this thing, we keep hearing Google will announce its mobile plans some time post-Labor Day (September 3rd); from what we've heard Google isn't necessarily working on hardware of its own, but is definitely working with OEMs and ODMs to get them to put the Gphone OS on upcoming devices. Think of it more in terms of Windows Mobile or Palm OS (in the early days) -- Google wants to supply the platform, but we don't think they want to sell hardware. Still, don't entirely rule out the idea. Andy Rubin knows how to make a device and put it in peoples' hands, so nothing is impossible on the hardware side. Either way, we're totally stoked to peep the software, we've been waiting for the Googlephone for years on years.