Google did it again.  Taking charge of the new open source device platform called Android, Google will surely be hitting Microsoft’s Windows Mobile quite hard in the near future.  The Android platform is what enables so many things in the phone’s software that will not be proprietary to one enterprise.  Developers from around the globe are now encouraged to develop applications, patches and related softwares under the Android main source code at source.android.com.

Cellphone manufacturers are now in the race to develop new Android phones for the market.  With so many Android handsets now in the pipeline, the smartphone battle will become increasingly fierce as this new open-source software is developed big time.  Google’s mobile phone OS may siphon users from Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and may even appeal to the middle the market where Palm is playing strong with its Nova platform.

While Symbian OS continues to dominate the market at about 50% share worldwide, it has a very small pie in the US market.  Realizing the market risks, Symbian will also offer open source OS later on to make a stronger presence in the US market but handsets are not expected to be available in the near term.  This will be good for Android as it may be able to gain foothold already in the US market and will probably keep Symbian at bay once its handsets are out.

Is Android also a threat to Apple’s IPhone or RIMM’s Blackberry?  You bet it is.  Android is making its way to the market and proprietary software owners are now worried about it can do to their business in the future.  However, these 2 phone giants are not really into Android as of yet.  They soon will be I’m sure.

It was reported that Samsung is readying a touch-screen Android phone that could have a similar form factor as the company’s Instinct or Behold smartphones. These devices would require Android’s virtual keyboard, which is on track for the first quarter of 2009.

Motorola is also focusing on Google’s OS for all its middle tier handsets betting it big on Android after ditching other operating systems recently. The first Motorola Android handset is rumored to be going to have strong integration with social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.

Sony don’t want to be late in the game as always as it already joined the Open Handset Alliance that developed the Android OS.  Although it was heard that Sony still in the prototype phase, they seem to be working fast to beat the market and as its Android phone designs is expected to launch its new handsets by middle of this year.

Android should be good for all of us.  I could not wait to get hold of a new Android phone.