This is not the Android you are looking for

The Google Phone will most likely be remembered as the spaghetti phone. Whether of not this is a reference device for Google and other developers, or an actual device aimed at consumers or carriers is not relevant right now. It will be relevant when Google will find it to be relevant. Google has an ever-changing array of services and applications. Many are designed to enhance it's capabilities as an advertising agent / broker, but more and more seem to be attempt to expand into other markets.

I don't see an endgame for Google, but it will need more high volume revenue channels. While we may scoff at Rupert Murdoch, a small change on the robot.txt file on some high volume media sources will hurt Google advertising engine. Currently there is nothing keeping the end users on the Google search engine other then good search results, force of habit, and trust.

Google has made a mess of trust in 2009. They were not the only ones, Facebook also blundered on privacy and security.

2010 will be the year when they will attempt to fix it or circumvent it. I think the second option is more likely. A new shiny phone, perhaps?