T-Mobile’s G1 and Google Android will make things interesting in the mobile phone market

On the heels of Canon’s DSLR that shoots HD video, another potentially future-changing technological development rolled out this past week: the Google Android mobile platform on HTC’s G1 phone (available through T-Mobile currently).

It’s not exactly *the* ultimate mobile device and not exactly an iPhone killer either, but the G1 brings some real competition to the smart phone market market (and specifically to the smart phone application development market).  Competition can be a great thing. Especially when Apple’s locked down, proprietary, DRM-supporting, app-denying system for the iPhone is beginning to feel like the some of early online services — Prodigy, CompuServe or AOL — and how they tried to control their users and the content on their networks. Android has the potential to open the mobile space, like the Internet did.

Don’t get me wrong, this is just software on a phone. There’s still challenges to face with mobile providers control of the network (much like there’s challenges with Internet Service Providers trying to choke access or derail net neutrality). And the G1 isn’t perfect by any means (the lack of a standard headphone jack is quite ‘jacked’ up and T-Mobile’s ridonkulous 1gb monthly transfer limit is just as questionable).

But at a time when iPhone frustrations continue to bubble up, it’s good to see there might be some real competition in the market. It’s definitely something to watch, along with what the other major members of the Android Open Handset Alliance produce over the next year.

Feast on this cornucopia of news, tech thoughts and hands-on video tours from around the web:

• T-Mobile G1 Sized-Up Against its Competitors
• T-Mobile G1 Android Phone Hands-On
• How the T-Mobile G1 Stacks Up To Its Frienemies
• T-Mobile G1 site goes live for real, first ad appears
• T-Mobile G1 video hands-on
• First Android Phone: “T-Mobile G1 With Google”
• A First Look at Google’s New Phone
• Google’s G1: First Impressions
• T-Mobile’s CTO on G1 unlocking and tethering — plus a few details you might have missed
• G1 GPS confirmed!
• Official press release from HTC
• Android: Why Android Is Bad For Business
• Amazon: 6 million DRM-free songs on T-Mobile G1
• T-Mobile G1: First Impression
• 11 ways Android will kick the iPhone’s ass
• Touching The Android: It’s No iPhone, But It’s Close
• T-Mobile G1: 1GB Monthly Cap? - New $25, $35 plans come with some fine print T-Mobile backed down from their 1GB data cap!
• Google’s Android: It’s not just for phones
• Best Android Apps: Android’s 10 Most Exciting Apps
• T-mobile G1: Hands-On With T-Mobile G1 Android Phone