Finally, the truth is out, those were not rumors - Google has officially announced its entry to the mobile software platforms, with the launch of Android, which is generally referred to as Google gphone.

A broad alliance of leading technology and wireless companies joined forces to announce the development of Android, the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders. The main goal of the alliance is to foster innovation on mobile devices and giving consumers a far better user experience than much of what is available on today's mobile platforms.

With this announcement Google, world's leading internet company, has offered a software system to make the Internet work as smoothly on mobile phones as it does on computers, and it is seeking to spur change in a tightly-controlled industry. It will kick start this initiative by next week. The first phones powered with the new platform are expected by early 2008.

By making Android open source software, Google provides developers a new level of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively, Android will accelerate the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made available to consumers. It is designed to unify the developers of mobile applications around a common platform that will make it easier and more enticing to surf the Web on cell phones. Android is based on Linux platform, which will allow hardware and software makers to develop applications freely. They can adapt all features be it audio or video.

Android bundles an operating system, middleware, user interface and applications. Currently all phones rely on proprietary software such as the Symbian operating system and Windows Mobile. Because of this the users are facing multitude of problems, which requires them to know the model number of their phones to download any application, because of the defragmentation in the industry. The lack of a collaborative effort has made it a challenge for developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers to respond as quickly as possible
to the ever-changing needs of savvy mobile consumers.

Through Android, developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers will be better positioned to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. The end result will be an unprecedented mobile platform that will enable wireless operators and manufacturers to give their customers better, more personal and more flexible mobile experiences. The entry of Google with Android is sure to make way to a number of innovative products in a short period of time at a very low cost, because the companies will not be now able to charge for the application specific software.

The vast range of browser based services which are currently available will be now offered to the mobile users such as GPS direction services and VoIP(Voice over IP). Programmers can now mix and match various options to reach any level that they want. The tight control of the network operators and the handset manufactures are bound to reduce to a large extent now.

The important competitors will be Nokia and Microsoft who has a large hold in the industry and in the content front the main competitor will be Blackberry. In India Bharti Airtel is expected to partner Google in this initiative.