A few more details are making their way to the web regarding the eagerly anticipated open source Google Android mobile platform. While at first the user interface appears to mimic iPhone, the most interesting part will be that the phones shipping with Android will use either a touch screen interface or more traditional keyboard interface. Make no mistake, when Android emerges, it is going to be largely compared to the iPhone. And on that front the battle will be won or lost based on (a) how well Android’s browser duplicates a desktop experience and (b) breadth and quality of available applications. Since the Android mobile platform is free and open source there should be significant handset savings. Google is mum about how applications will be distributed but it will be similar to how YouTube ranks videos based on downloads with the added factor (long overdue!) of how may times the application was uninstalled. Still no announced shipping date for any of this. My gut say’s that Google takes a look at what people complain about on the iPhone 3G and updates and completes their Android mobile platform.

There are 34 prominent companies including HTC, LG, Samsung and Intel involved with the Open Handset Alliance. When this technology is ready, expect a very large impact. Instead of being able to buy the phone at one carrier as is the practice with iPhone, you’ll be purchasing your Android based phones from multiple sources. Competition is a good thing. Look for things to heat up consideribly when the first Android mobile phone ships.

via Hardware Zone and Gizmodo

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