The combination of Google's open-source Android mobile operating system, T-Mobile service, and HTC manufacturing comes less than a year after the Open Handset Alliance unveiled plans for Android.

"Software developers are key to driving innovation on the Web, and also for mobile. That's why, over the past year, we've released several early versions of the software developer kit (SDK) and worked with developers from around the world to make it better and more complete," wrote Erick Tseng, lead product manager on the Android team, in the company's blog.

Betting on Innovation

The SDK gives developers unfettered access to the G1's hardware and software capabilities to inspire innovation. The possibilities are vast, and more than 1,700 applications were developed during the Android Developer Challenge. Google engineers have also developed applications.

"Developers will soon be able to distribute their applications to real handsets through the beta version of Android Market. Handset manufacturers and wireless carriers will be able to incorporate Android innovations into their own new handsets and service offerings," Tseng said. "And users will get better handsets and more choice. We think it's another step toward realizing the full potential of the mobile phone."

When the G1 comes to market in October, legions of developers and hackers will transform the device in ways that HTC and T-Mobile can't even imagine, predicted Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy for Jupitermedia.

"It's going to be interesting to see when they start coming up with things like applications to unlock the phone so you can run it on other networks, or applications to tether it so you can use it as a modem, or applications that enable remote television, or programs that totally change the user interface so it looks like an iPhone or a Windows mobile device," Gartenberg said. "All of these things are possible."

Open Sourcing Android

Not only does Android allow applications access to the phone's functionality, but the platform itself will also be open, Tseng stressed. The Open Handset Alliance plans to open-source the entire Android platform by the end of the year.

"Along with the other members of the alliance, we hope that Android can provide a meaningful contribution to all players in the mobile ecosystem: the developers, the wireless carriers, the handset manufacturers, etc." he said. "Everyone will be free to adopt and adapt the technology as they see fit. By doing so, we hope that users will get better, more capable phones with powerful Web browsers and access to a rich catalog of innovative mobile applications."

Gartenberg noted that the G1 is T-Mobile and HTC's interpretation of Android. He made the analogy of going to a restaurant, where you'll get the chef's interpretation of how to prepare a particular set of ingredients. In the case of mobile phones, Android is the ingredient and it will be prepared in different ways.

"What's interesting about this is Google's services, while part of Android, are not required on Android. We could conceivably see an Android phone from Sprint that is tied to Yahoo services that has absolutely no Google component in it whatsoever," he said. "That would be perfectly within bounds, according to the Android licensing agreement."