It seems that with all the hype surrounding Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:AAPL) rumored, then confirmed, iPhone, that rumors about a possible Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) mobile phone remained somewhat in the shadows. A few tech blogs picked up a story back in December about an Orange and Google partnership, but other than that, not much was written about the subject.

In January, some pictures of the Google Switch were released, but they looked fake enough to be discounted. Still, speculation that Google has been working on its own hardware has been growing. Then, yesterday, Engadget posted about a supposed marketing survey about the Google Phone. Again, the reliability of this is in question. From this alleged survey (larger view): "The Google Phone, designed by Samsung, is a very thin and stylish handset with a large screen and a QWERTY keypad so that it provides a real internet experience."

Over at Engadget they're wondering if Apple's iPhone could get some real competition. Not only does the Google Phone have all of Google's services for PCs, it includes 3G data, WiFi, and a two-megapixel camera, among other features. Last, but definitely not least, it might be a lot cheaper than the iPhone -- with a "flat-rate data service and a three-month trial."

If you recall, CEO Eric Schmidt said that "your mobile phone should be free," and I'd assume he plans, like all other Google services, to make money off advertising. The question is, would you rather pay $499 for the iPhone and get an ad-free experience, or would you rather be inundated with ads but pay much less?

If any of the rumors are indeed true, I guess we'll have to wait and see what consumers prefer.