Reports are emerging that the much rumoured Google phone is already in prototype and could be commercially available within a year.

The web giant is believed to be touting the phone around vendors and operators to gauge interest and fine tune the specifications.

It is believed the phone could be made available to consumers for free by bundling advertisements with its search engine, email and other web applications.

In November Google chief executive Eric Schmidt caused a stir when he announced that mobile phones should be free. Schmidt believes calls could be paid for through advertising.

The industry is divided over whether an adverting supported model could work. Blyk, a startup from the former vice president of Nokia, Pekka Ala-Pietila has been gearing up to launch in the UK and is being closely watched as possibly the first completely ad supported MVNO.

To comment on this and other articles, please contact us at [email protected]