I wasn't invited to the "invitation-only event held at Google's Mountain View HQ," but Google also talks about the launch at the Official Google Blog.
This is part of Google's attempt to stay relevant as users increasingly move their Internet access from PCs and laptops (and Macs) to mobile devices. Google says it created Android to "Open up mobile devices to enable greater innovation that will benefit users everywhere." And to be part of the browsing process that generates the bulk of their enormous advertising revenue.
Contrast that to the iPhone. Many of the complaints about the iPhone center around the control wielded by Apple over available apps as well as the exclusive agreement in the US with ATT. Making an iPhone capable of functioning on other wireless carrier networks is known as jail breaking.
While the Apple strategy is to attempt to control the iPhone and mobile experience, Google's Nexus One launch is taking the opposite approach. Google says "anyone can build anything on top of the platform. This ultimately benefits users."
Mobile consumers in the US can initially buy a Nexus One running Android from the Google hosted web store with service (and a contract) from T-Mobile or without an operator. Eventually Google says it plans to offer a variety of phones and will add operators and countries to its mobile operations. Google mentions Verizon in the US and Vodafone in Europe as the next operators available.
The iPhone has been unparalleled in its capabilities and user experience in the mobile environment. Because Android is open source, we can expect a similar explosion of apps available on the Nexus One and subsequent Google smart phones. Ideally this will give customers a great alternative and will drive further innovation in mobile devices.
We use iPhones and Blackberrys at On-Site Technical Solutions. Looks like we'll have to get into Nexus One now too. Below are links to reviews on the Nexus one. We're not concerned as much about how the Nexus One stacks up now, but how the open source Android develops in the future. After all, most people in the US are stuck with multi-year contracts for their mobile service.
Nexus One Review (phandroid - ok, expect this to be biased)
The Nexus One in a nutshell (boingboing)
Nexus One Review: The "Best Android Phone to Date" (Huffington Post)
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