When Google announced that they were entering into the Smartphone OS war there was both skepticism and excitement. While the design of the HTC Dream or T-Mobile G1 may have not been the most inspired work, it was the perfect canvas for Google to introduce the real star of the device, their Android mobile operating system. The cute little green alien was still in its infant stages when it was released to the public in September 2008 but it still was able to make believers out of critics and users alike. Most of the critics wrote that the first version of Android was very intriguing and was a very good starting place but still had considerable room to grow. Since the initial release Google has released 3 updates to Android including Android 1.5 which added a bevy of options such as video recording and a soft keyboard. And now 11 months after the release of the first Android device, Google's mobile operating system is ready to turn into the force it was expected to be from the start.

T-Mobile has just released its second Android device, the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G. The HTC Hero is rumoured to be released on Verizon and several Motorola and Samsung devices are also set to be rolled out to the various U.S. wireless carriers in the coming months. Dell has released an Android device in China and Acer is rumored to be working on an Android powered decive as well. The fact that Android is going to be released across all the major wireless carriers and by so many different device makers is a very encouraging sign for Google. The number of devices that will be flooding the marketplace will make it very easy to gain ground on Windows Mobile, Blackberry and Apple in a short period of time. Currently the Iphone, is only available on AT&T and that could hamper the device as the overall smartphone market increases. But the real game changer is the flexibility of the OS itself.

HTC has released the Hero in Europe and the phone features what HTC is calling "Sense," which is an overlay that HTC engineered to increase the UI of Android. Basically, Android allows each device manufacturer to do whatever they want with the OS to create a unique user experience. The devices found on T-Mobile have been of the "with Google" ilk and are mainly internet tools that tie in perfectly with the Google applications such as Maps, Gmail and Youtube. But HTC, as well as Sony and Motorola, are creating devices that will only enhance the perception of Android. Android was presented as an open source mobile operating system that would allow for companies to express themselves with each device without being tied down to the guidelines of another company. While each hardware maker can create their own software for the UI of the unit, each phone will still be very much an Android device and that is a key factor as well. Being able to have access to the Android Marketplace, which has somewhere around 6,000 apps at the moment and is growing rapidly, is a huge selling point and allows for further customization of your device.

Android has the ability to grow faster than any other mobile operating system because of the details I listed above. The next year could very well end up being the year of that Android staked its claim as a legitimate player in the mobile opersating system game. Apple already released the IPhone 3Gs and there are about 10 months until the next Apple IPhone release and there appears to be atleast 4 confirmed Android releases coming to U.S. carriers in that timeframe. That gives the Android platform a chance to expand its current market share. Android also has the flexibility to be on both high end and low end models which makes its mobile operating system takeover essentially a formality. It can be used for social networking devices, multimedia devices, business devices and whatever other kind of device they come out with in the future. Google has positioned themselves in a spot where they can attack the bigger players from all directions with Android's versatility. Now, lets sit back and wait and see if Google can take over another realm of the technological world. My money is on Google, all the way.