Google Android

Google Android..... is not a scary AI freak coming straight out of DBZ or Terminator.
sorry..
So, Google Android is a software platform and operating system for mobile phones based mostly on the Linux OS. Yes, it is the same thing as Mac OS for the iPhone, Windows Mobile and Symbian. Only its more open source, more flexible to developers who can create apps using java. According to Google it will be 100% open source, "Android does not differentiate between the phone's basic and third-party applications - even the dialer or home screen can be replaced." - GOOGLE
Unlike Apple, though Google won't be launching its phone alongwith its own handset, we won't have a gPhone around. The first mobile carrier to launch it will be T-Mobile and the first handset is HTC Dream. It will be priced at around $200 with contract and $4oo at retail. This price band is contagious!! Android is set to give the iPhone some competition. While the Android would have been a real knockout if it had come before the iPhone, the glory will now be somewhat dimmed as many of the apps will have similar counterparts in the mac os.
Google unveild Android on 5th November 2007 along with Open Handset Allinace, a business alliance of Google, HTC, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Samsung, LG, T-Mobile, Nvidia and Wind River Systems to develop open standards of mobile devices.

I hope we have another kinda dev team to unlock the phone so that it can work with other carriers as well.