T-Mobile has launched the first phone based on Google-backed Android operating system. Yes, the first ‘Google Phone’ is out. The handset itself has been manufactured by HTC. Comparisons to iPhone are inevitable.

Blogosphere is loaded with reports of the first G-phone finally hitting the market. The reviews (opinions, actually) are mixed all over. From the time it was first announced, the G-Phone, as it was known initially, had created a lot of hype. Though later, when it became known that Google won’t be developing a hardware device, but will be designing an operating system for the existing smart phones, the hype died.

The reactions on the new Android based phone (yes, that’s the correct definition) are mixed. Some people have found it outright ugly (When compared to the iPhone. I wonder, comparing to the iPhone, what can come across as non-ugly?)

So, what do we think of the Google Phone?

The hardware device is by HTC. It’s the software that’s powered by Android.  It’s called G1, and the carrier is T-Mobile. The interface of the first-generation Android phone is not as breathtaking as the iPhone, but it sure looks good. It’s a smartphone, build on the promise of customization. So, rather than what it has, it’s the potential of what it can be, that’s of more importance here.

From the start, Google has promoted Android as an open source platform for the developers. If that true, we can have thousands of developers trying out applications for Android. In that respect, the first version adheres to the work policy of Google of getting the version 1 out in the market as soon as possible. The improvements are done in an iterative manner, after the feedback. Looking in this light, the G1 has a long way to go. How much of oomph factor it can possess will depend largely on the (a.)hardware manufacture and (b.)the applications installed on it. Now, clearly, both these things are not totally in Google’s hands.

Apple, on its hand is clearly ahead as of now. Its product is a commercial blockbuster, and it has opened up the development to a number of developers. Although it still has a say on what app goes into the iPhone store, but not many are complaining. If Apple can maintain the quality of the apps that go in the iPhone, by this partial regulation, then it’s good for Apple.

Android, as far as I can guess, will do away with any kind of restriction. Anyone will be free to develop anything for the platform. Now the problem with this approach is the user being bombarded with a a lot of useless applications. Something that can be described as app-spamming (never heard the term before.) A lot to sift through, to find something really useful. Yes, this will ensure that on the whole, the number of useful applications on the Android platform will exceed those on the iPhone, but again, to get through these useful ones, a user will have to wade through a lot of useless ones. Might be a frustrating experience.

Overall, the situation is close to what was when Linux debuted. A lot of happiness in the developer community for an open platform to chose on. However, an end non-geeky user, prefers ease of use. And Linux never really took off. Every year there were Open Source Conferences , where presentations by the self-proclaimed experts will claim that Microsoft will become in extinct in two years. Four 2-years have passed since I saw the first since claim and Linux is yet to make a difference.

The point here is that to the end user, functionality comes before potential. So, the end user might still prefer an iPhone. Unless, the Google Phone becomes as cool as Google itself is in the online world.

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