Android - will it live up to the hype?

The the first phone to run on Google's new technology Android, the T-Mobile G1, will go on sale some time before Christmas in the UK.

Industry insiders can’t wait to find out if this seriously-hyped product will be a success, but Android is going to mean far more to the industry than simply a new phone.

Android is an open source operating system for phones and, as such, provides huge potential for innovation in the industry.

Being open source, handset manufacturers and wireless operators will be able to customize any phone running on Android with more exciting new features as and when they become available.

In theory, this should mean that innovative new products can be brought to market faster and at a lower cost. Watch this space!