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Google announced today that they will release a mobile operating system (OS) under the project name Android.

The short story: Google won’t be selling a Google Phone or gPhone. But any device manufacturer can join the Open Handset Alliance and use Google’s software to build a mobile phone.

In the words of Andy Rubin, Google’s executive for the project:

Android is the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. It includes an operating system, user-interface and applications — all of the software to run a mobile phone, but without the proprietary obstacles that have hindered mobile innovation.

Google will provide services that give users access to Google documents, spreadsheets, mail, and other services. In return, Google gains a new way to sell more Web ads, which accounts for a major portion of the company’s revenue.

An open platform makes it easier and less expensive to develop software and hardware for this system, a key point that mobile carriers and handset manufacturers will like. Apple’s iPhone is still more-or-less locked down, which makes it very difficult for large companies to develop their own iPhone applications for employee use. Apple has announced a software development kit for February 2008, according to TidBITS.

Programmers who want to write software for Symbian or Microsoft smartphones usually pay for the privilege.

Some relevant articles on this topic include:

• Wired, 5 November 2007: Google Phone announced as mobile operating system
• TechCrunch, 5 November 2007: Breaking: Google announced Android and Open Handset Alliance
• New York Times, 5 November 2007: Google enters the wireless world
• New York Times, 4 November 2007: I, Robot: The man behind the Google phone
• My articles on the Google Phone
• Business Week, 17 August 2005: Google buys Android

Here’s the official Google video of the announcement form YouTube.