What's more, Google is among joined several companies who have joined forces to announce the development of Android, an "open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices." Google, T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders.

This alliance says it "shares a common goal of fostering innovation on mobile devices and giving consumers a far better user experience than much of what is available on today's mobile platforms." Thirty-four companies have formed the Open Handset Alliance, which aims to develop technologies that will lower the cost of developing and distributing mobile devices and services. The Android platform is designed as a fully integrated mobile "software stack" that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface and applications.

Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android to be available in the second half of 2008. Next week the Alliance will release an early access software development kit to provide developers with the tools necessary to create applications for the platform.

"This partnership will help unleash the potential of mobile technology for billions of users around the world. A fresh approach to fostering innovation in the mobile industry will help shape a new computing environment that will change the way people access and share information in the future," says Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt. "Today's announcement is more ambitious than any single 'Google Phone' that the press has been speculating about over the past few weeks. Our vision is that the powerful platform we're unveiling will power thousands of different phone models."