Will Google's Android kill the iPhone?

Monday, Google is expected to announce a major mobile initiative called Android. Google's mobile announcement seems likely to include an open source platform for creating mobile applications with a full suite of core components: operating system; browser; a set of common APIs; and a customizable user interface. Many big-name partners are expected to be mentioned in the announcement, including Sprint and China Mobile. Verizon, RIM, Nokia, and Apple are not expected to be listed, which could pit the iPhone against the Google phone in the year ahead.

Google's entry into the industry could finally inject some real competition into the carrier space and breakdown some of the barriers hampering innovation and consumer choice. All signs seem to indicate that Google intends to work outside the walled garden that cellcos have used to decide what they will and will not permit on the handset. I for one would spend a lot less time in front of my computer, if I had a 3G phone (preferably WiMAX) with ubiquitous and unrestricted access to the internet, a reasonable amount of storage, a basic set of productivity apps, and freedom of choice about the software I installed on the device. Based on what has been leaked so far about Google's Android announcement, that day is drawing near.