The first mobile telephones showing off Google’s own Android software have now gone on show.  Companies including ARM, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm have all demonstrated working prototypes at the annual Mobile World Congress.

The free system was launched way back in November 2007 and is being developed by an alliance of software developers including Google.  The first mobile phone to use the software (named Android) is expected to be available this year.

Several applications have been touted for the system – which of course will be running Google based software.  These include maps, browser, camera applications, email and calendar.  Pretty much the features you’d expect (and I’d argue more) on a mobile phone.

The real buzz around the software for mobile devices though is that it is open source, meaning that developers can access code, modify systems and change applications to suit.  Whilst this won’t mean much for a normal user a power user might be able to alter their apps, or developers might be able to tailor content to specific phones.  This sort of functionality certainly sounds the way of the future.

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