Android - Google’s upcoming software for mobile phones

A brief demonstration at the Internet search leader’s annual developer conference in San Francisco represented the most extensive public look so far at “Android” - an open-source platform being designed for “smart” phones and other mobile devices that surf the Web. Android was first announced nearly seven months ago.

The bells and whistles unveiled Wednesday included: a way to unlock phones by drawing a specific shape on the touchscreen instead of entering a password; bookmarks for favorite Web sites on the device’s home page; a “compass” tool that automatically roams with the phone while a user looks at photographic images of a city map; a magnifying tool to zoom in on Web content; and a mobile version of the video game “Pac Man.”

Android is being developed by The Open Handset Alliance which consists for more than 30 Mobile and Technology companies.: the first complete, open, and free mobile platform. To help developers get started developing new applications, google is offering an early look at the Android Software Development Kit.Three part overview of the Android architecture and APIs

First look at building an Android Application

Google Android Features:

-Android allows you to access core mobile device functionality through standard API calls.
- Android does not differentiate between the phone’s basic and third-party applications — even the dialer or home screen can be replaced.
- Combine information from the web with data on the phone — such as contacts or geographic location — to create new user experiences.
- The SDK contains what you need to build and run Android applications, including a true device emulator and advanced debugging tools.
Resources:

Learn More About Android
Download Google Android SDK
Join the community
Google Android Official Website