Android: If it's not a gPhone, what is it?

Since I wasn't on the big Google Conference Call that didn't announce the gPhone but did announce some new phone platform that a bunch of vendors not named Apple are supporting, I decided to follow along on Engadet's live blog of the phone event. Even with a very good transcript of the event, I am still confused: What is Android?

I get that its a browser for a mobile devices, but don't we already have that with Apple's Safari browser on the iPhone? How is this different? And sure, it's open so a bunch of people can develop apps for it and there could be a whole bunch of "gPhones" from multiple handset vendors, but isn't that what Windows Mobile 6 is?

I am still not seeing what the big "Wow" is other than it is yet another announcement from Google.

And, will carriers support this? Part of the reason they like these closed phones is that it makes support issues easier. Imagine getting some freeware open source application on your gPhone and having the phone mess up. What do you think that tech support call to AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint or T-Mobile will be like?

For all the hype, this announcement really leaves me underwhelmed. Eric Schmidt is a member of Apple's board of directors. He should take some tips from Steve J. about how to wow the crowd in a press event.

• Wireless / Mobile
• Android
• Google
• gphone