A week or so ago youtube announced a demo using HTML5 (i.e.: flash-less).  Conspicuously, the demo doesn't work with Firefox.  Also notable is that it uses the proprietary H.264 codec.  I don't know what to think of this, if it's a payoff to someone or what.

This morning I read that Google Voice has been released for iPhone and Palm WebOS.  Here's a snippet:

Today, we're excited to introduce the Google Voice web app for the iPhone and Palm WebOS devices. This HTML5 application provides you with a fast and versatile mobile experience for Google Voice because it uses the latest advancements in web technologies. For example, AppCache lets you interact with web apps without a network connection and local databases allow you to store data locally on the device, so you don't lose data even when you close the browser.

One of the great benefits of web applications is that you don't need to download and install an app on your phone. Instead, simply point your mobile browser to m.google.com/voice and sign in to your Google Voice account.

Then you can make calls from your phone that show your Google Voice number as the caller ID. You can also listen to voicemail and read voicemail transcripts, send and receive text messages for free, and take advantage of the low international call rates offered by Google Voice.

This is compelling in a lot of ways.  VOIP calls will surely become the norm on cell phones within a few years and Google is simply nudging the envelope.  I wish Skype had been afforded the the same opportunity.

But the downside is this.  Google makes their money from advertising.  And the holy grail of advertising is personal information.  Google wants to be the premier source of information about you so widget-sellers of every ilk will send them advertising dollars.  But Google, like Facebook, is clandestine in their information collection and opaque regarding their objectives.  Which makes me not trust them one tiny bit.