Android, Google's hot new mobile device platform, is the buzz around the mobile world, especially amongst the giants like Motorola and Nokia. They've been looking for a way to crack the iPhone market for a while now, and Android seems to be the pony they're betting on.

TechCrunch has the whole article detailing how Motorola is expanding their current, 50 person Android development team up to a whopping 350 members. This makes sense given the reception that Android as a whole and the new G1 phone as an example of its use have gotten. There may be some things lacking and a little polish to be added, but there's no debating that it's got some serious potential to compete against the current 800-lb gorilla of the mobile PC market - the iPhone.

As much exuberance as I've emitted regarding the G1, I have to say this is even more exciting for me. I've been a long-time Motorola fan. They just seem to "get it" when it comes to mobile phones. They work well, they have the features I want, implemented well, they're reliable, and even good looking most times. The G1 was exciting to me from a raw technologic standpoint. This is that AND a "day-to-day use" excitement. Woohoo!

I guess this means I'll have to look out for info on the new Motorola offerings and see if they are coming out with anything sometime in the near future. If so, I might just have to put off my G1 plans on wait for that. That all depends on ship-dates though, I suppose. Regardless of my personal situation, it sure is cool to see the Android platform taking off so quickly and catching so much well deserved interest from the major players in the market.

A flexible, powerful, well-built mobile platform that's also open and offers a cool, powerful new platform for development can only be a good thing, if you ask me.

#Colin