Search giant Google is now approaching wireless operators in the hope of launching Google customised products carrying it's search engine, email and new mobile web browser, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It is reported that hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in the mobile phone project. Prototype handsets have been developed and it is understood that T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have been approached.

The phones are not planned for sale until next year according to the WSJ. However, the paper refers to a comment made by Eric Schmidt in May about ad phones being "twice as profitable or more than the non-mobile phone ads because they're more personal", suggesting the deals are indeed on the agenda for the ever expanding company.

A Google spokesman refused to comment on the Google phone project, but noted: "We are partnering with almost all of the carriers and manufacturers to get Google search and other Google applications onto their devices and networks."