TechCrunch’s Erick Schonfeld reported that Google is about to launch a mobile Web site that extends the capabilities of Google Voice to the Apple iPhone and Palm Pre/Pixi. While he calls it an “end run” around Apple’s governance of the application distribution process, it is more accurately an instantiation of Google’s core philosophy that apps (including mobile) should be executed “in the cloud” not on end-user devices. It means judicious use of Web “standards” (especially HTML5) to make a user’s experience identical, whether he or she is on a desktop, laptop or smartphone.

As reported by Schonfeld, there are some neat call handling tricks going on behind the scenes to enable a mobile app to initiate a call through the browser. But the end users will find a familiar “inbox” complete with SMS, transcribed voice messages (such as they are) and call records for phone calls received or originated using their assigned Google Voice number.

“Cord-cutting” is a major trend underlying Recombinant Communications. Google is joined by Ribbit Mobile, Truphone, fring and even the mother of all VoIP providers Skype are evolving and extending their range and product depth over smartphones. In making the move, each is demonstrating how far we have moved beyond inexpensive international calling and single number service.

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Tags: mobile services, Google Voice, iPhone, Recombinant Communications, Palm