(Column) - Ever since the early news came out that Google was working on some sort of mobile phone (or gPhone, if you will), there’s been a lot of speculation about what it would actually be like. Google has pretty much been involved in every type of technology project known to mankind, so it only makes sense that they would officially make the jump to a more active and visible involvement in the mobile platform space as well. Now that official details have emerged, the speculation is over, and we can now peek behind the curtain and see what this Google phone thing is all about.

First of all, instead of focusing on releasing one specific phone that contains Google branding inside and out at this time, Google is actually a part of the Open Handset Alliance which contains 34 members from the technology and mobile industries (such as NVIDIA, Intel, and Motorola) that are dedicated to building a better mobile experience together. Google may be huge, but there are plenty of other big and important members of this group that all specialize in various things, and when you combine that knowledge into one effort, then the results are sure to be pretty spectacular.

They’ve released a mobile platform called Android, and not only is it free, but it’s built on Linux and completely open source. An early look at the SDK will be available soon, and handsets are expected to be out in the second half of 2008.

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I have to say, this is pretty exciting, and when you consider the fact that all of these huge companies are working together on something like this, then you realize that the waves of change are upon us. Good things will come from this, and there’s no doubt about that.

So much attention has been focused on Google in relation to this project, and there’s an important reason for that. Some would say that Google already has a version of the Google phone, thanks to their involvement with the iPhone, and with Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube integration, those are valid comments. The phone may be developed by Apple, but Google is obviously a part of it.

How could Google work with and support Apple on the iPhone and then be a part of the Open Handset Alliance that is about everything that the iPhone platform wasn’t from the beginning? For example, the SDK for Android is going to be in the hands of developers before the handsets are even released to ensure that they know what they’ll need to develop applications that take full advantage of what this open and free platform can do. Does that sound like the iPhone to you? Unsurprisingly, Apple and AT&T are not a part of this alliance. Google is definitely playing both sides of the field on this one.

It seems as if Apple made public the news about a release of an iPhone SDK in anticipation of this news. It’s almost as if there will be a showdown between Apple and this Open Handset Alliance. Who will win? All I can say is that even though it may be open source, this Android project is really going to have to blow me away if it’s going to make me think about giving up my iPhone for even one second.

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