I was just reading this line from CNET’s article a few weeks ago about Google’s Marissa Mayer talking about iPhones and Google applications. To date I hadn’t read anything about these kind of numbers (football season might be taking away from all that new media reading), so they struck me as very interesting:

Usage of Google mobile apps rose 10 percent each week for the first three weeks in June and saw a 40 percent to 50 percent spike almost overnight after the iPhone was launched…

Now despite all the hype and rumors, I know many are asking why Google would even make a phone. My first thought upon reading this quote was how Google doesn’t even appear to need its own phone. As the search king and an online product developer and monster of search advertising with a huge brand name, can’t they just let folks like iPhone and Nokia make the toys and stick with making money from the fact that everyone will continue to use their stuff on these new devices? Seems like that would be the easy answer, especially given numbers like this.

Google Phone

However, the thing to probably consider that while this quote might be a great thing for Google and a boost to their business, there is always more to be had. So while making more money and serving more ads because people are more apt to surf the web on their new iPhones is cool, wouldn’t it be slightly cooler to own the platform on everyone’s phone, bundle ads with almost everything in exchange for cheaper/free services and have Google drive the mobile web? Probably. With mobile advertising reportedly on the cusp of finally hitting big (thanks in part, yes, to things like the iPhone), wouldn’t it be nice for Google to control the whole thing? Probably.

Will it work? Who knows. How much will people believe that someone like Google is able to make a phone that they like? Will being known as the advertising giant and search giant help or hurt? What sorts of bundles will come with the phone that make it worth while? Will there be price breaks? So many questions.