Just when you were coming down from the iPhone hype, here comes Google with its own applications and services for cellphones. The Wall Street Journal says Google will announce its much-anticipated wireless plans within the next two weeks.  

Google-powered phones – picture Google Maps, YouTube and Gmail on your handset — could come to market by the middle of next year, according to the newspaper’s report.  It sounds as though it will be a bundle of software and applications rather than a hardware device.

Along those lines,  Google has been courting U.S. and European mobile operators in recent months. Some even thought the Web leader might announce its mobile plans at its analyst day last week. While it didn’t — and  company officials could not be reached to comment on the Wall Street Journal report – it appears that the long wait for a ”GPhone” is almost over.

That could be good news for independent software developers, many of whome are still buzzing from Apple’s announcement earlier this month that it will allow outside developers to create programs for the iPhone. A Google phone is also expected to offer an open operating system and allow developers create a wide range of new services. What does Google get from that? Think really, really targeted advertising. (Wall Street Journal)

Keep an eye on:

•  Yahoo is adding adding media-playing features, large file transfers, new languages and other tools to its instant messaging service,  dubbed Yahoo messenger 9.0 (Reuters)
• Apple has sold more than two million copies of the latest version of its operating system, Mac OS X Leopard, since its release on Friday (Reuters)
• Qwest Communications cuts its earnings outlook for the year and shares tumble (Reuters)
• Real estate Web sites and blogs continue to win financing and visitors despite the sharp downturn in the housing market (New York Times)

(Photo: Reuters)