SINGAPORE -- Google is stepping up its presence in the mobile space with a late-2007 announcement of Android, its mobile phone operating system that competes directly with existing phone operating systems such as Symbian and Windows Mobile.

Since then, journalists and developers have been waiting to ogle Google?s latest mobile offering. Luckily, a few Filipino journalists were able to get a view of Android at the Google office in Singapore. Andy Rubin, Google senior director for mobile platforms, briefed us with some of Google's upcoming plans and its intentions to draw mobile phone users into their online service.

Rubin described the Android as a "mashup" architecture to bring Internet-style innovation to the mobile space. Based on the Apache 2.0 open source code, Android would accommodate most applications developed using Java and other open source software developer kits. Because it is open source, developers can create applications and test it out on Android without worrying about licensing.

In fact, when Google started the $10-million Android Developer Challenge early this year, there were over 1,700 submissions from 75 countries, two-thirds of which were from outside the United States. Rubin added that 20 percent of all submissions were from Asia.

Another aim of Rubin is to reduce the prices of mobile phones, particularly on the software side. Rubin said about 20 percent of a phone?s price is dictated by software. By providing a cheaper and robust alternative operating system, manufacturers will be able to make cheaper phones, he said.

The Android's user interface can be described as being similar to the touch-screen operating system of the Apple iPhone. But that's where the similarities end. Instead of having just one desktop area, the Android can do up to three and all it takes to move to the adjacent "window" is a flick of a finger on the screen.

Because Google developed Android with its online products in mind, an Android phone should be able to run most of Google's online applications, such as Gmail, Google Talk, and YouTube.com. It uses a browser based on WebKit, an open source program also used by Apple's Safari Internet browser.

There are about 20 applications readily available with the Android with more to be introduced when the phone is launched, which Rubin said could be anytime later this year. Android should also be able to support cellular networks from GSM, CDMA, EDGE and 3G. Rubin said. Other connectivity capabilities include Bluetooth and wi-fi.

Rubin said they are conducting testing and certification of Android with several telecommunications carriers, bringing them a step closer to a launch sometime this year.