Rumors have been circulating again about Google getting into the mobile phone market, with a report today on the The Wall Street Journal's Website that says the search giant has been in talks with carriers such as T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless about technical specs and about carrying handsets optimized to run Google applications.

The Journal, citing people familiar with the project, also said that Google has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in its mobile phone project, and has already developed prototype handsets. Unlike Apple's exclusive deal with AT&T, the Journal reported that Google is hoping to forge deals with multiple manufacturers and offer the handsets through multiple carriers and that the phones will not necessarily carry the Google brand.

The phones are still very much in the planning stages, and consumers shouldn't expect to see them until next year at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Google continues to make its applications more mobile-friendly, reportedly even working on a new mobile browser.