Get this straight: Google isn’t selling a “Google phone” to compete with Apple’s iPhone. Instead, it’s addressing the software/operating system end of things by helping develop the Android platform, all the better to propagate its applications and services to billions of mobile phone users around the globe. Phones based on the Android platform are open to all developers but will be especially Google-friendly; expect to see a variety of Android-powered phones from many major cell phone manufacturers and service providers throughout the coming months and years.