None of the documents show why the proposal failed to come to fruition. Google did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the documents.

Another email includes a draft of a response Rubin was composing, presumably to questions posed by Page. The email, dated October 2005, referred to two questions from Page including: "Open source handset solution (aka Android) is some ways away. What can we do in the meantime? Should we consider launching an MVNO (from Larry)? Other?"

An MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, offers a mobile service using network capacity leased from another operator, rather than building its own network. Google was rumored at various times to have been considering a mobile phone service but has never confirmed its interest.

Rubin's draftresponse did not directly address the MVNO question. But it did refer to a perceived threat by Microsoft. "It is widely believed by that if an open platform is not introduced in the next few years then Microsoft will own the programmable handset platform: Palm is dying, RIM is a one-trick pony, and while Symbian is growing market share, it's becoming a Nokia only solution," he wrote.