Fynspire

This morning on TechCrunch I ran across a post about G1, the phone that's pegged to be the first Android phone from T-Mobile. After hearing insiders grumbling about how Android was bound to be overrated, slow, or hideously late, I must admit that I was beginning to feel a bit lackluster about the platform. However, after laying eyes on these sketches from the Android Guys, my excitement has returned.



The phone seems to take its basic design from the Sidekick, which I think is an excellent move. The Sidekick is a popular phone, and users enjoy its design. The iPhone is remarkable and revolutionary; it would have been foolhardy for Google and T-Mobile to try to out-design Apple--a battle they would have undoubtedly lost. By taking the Sidekick's basic design as a starting point, they avoid trying to re-invent the wheel, and can be comfortable having a strong industrial design base, freeing them up to focus on the most important aspect of the phone: the Android platform.

I look forward to Android launching. If it has a minimum of bugs and launches in tandem with T-Mobile's efforts to open an app-store, Android could do a great deal to move mobile applications and technology forward. What most fascinates me about the Android is the potential for it to effect Apple. I don't expect Android phones to push the iPhone off of its well-deserved pedestal; however, I will be interested to see how Apple would be forced to respond to a thriving open design platform. What would Apple feel the need to do to remain the darling of designers and developers? At the least, I suspect they might have to loosen the strangle-hold they maintain over the apps. I also suspect that an Android phone will be cheaper than an iPhone, thus opening up smartphones to the more price-conscientious market, and allowing greater market saturation for smartphone technology.

This is of course speculation, and entirely dependent on the ability of Google and T-Mobile to launch the Android platform and G1 phone on time with a minimum of bugs, and in way that attracts and maintains developers.