Google Reportedly Working On Its Own Smartphone

(RTTNews) - Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL, GOOG), is planning to release its own line of smartphones in a move to challenge Apple and their dominance of the smartphone market with the iPhone, according to the Telegraph.

The report said that the technology giant is in discussions with mobile operators about releasing a Google-branded phone that will extend the company's move into hardware.

Google already develops the Android operating system that runs on four in five smartphones sold around the world, and endorses a range of phones made by partners such as LG and Huawei under the Google Nexus brand. But unlike Apple, it leaves manufacturing to other companies such as Samsung, with the company concentrating on developing the free software that runs on its phones, the report said.

The report noted that the new device, which will be released by the end of the year, will see Google take more control over design, manufacturing and software.

Although Android runs on the majority of smartphones sold globally, Apple still dominates the lucrative high-end of the market.