I've been really interested to read the latest reports regarding the Android platform. Even though it's market share is relatively small (due to the fact that it only ships on one device, the HTC Dream (G1) on T-Mobile), I think it's poised for major growth. Android is on the radars of many companies and I think it will eventually capture significant market share. Here are some of the reasons I am bullish:

1) According to AdMob, Android has captured 5% of the U.S. mobile web traffic for smartphones. Granted this is not a huge number (compared to the iPhone's 50%), but remember that the one phone Android is running on has only been out for 3 months - so this is significant. Also consider that RIM, Windows Mobile, and Palm devices have all lost double-digit traffic percents from the previous 6 months. Together, you're seeing a real momentum shift in the consumer smartphone market.

2) Motorola has put more than $50 million into Android. According to Engaget, all future Moto smartphone development will only consider Android, and social networking features are being built into the devices. I suppose this means there will be tighter integration into popular online services and perhaps with the user's contact list. Your phone book is a great place to start building your social graph.

3) Venture Beat reports that Android-enabled netbooks will be released in 2010. It's clear that Android is targeting more than just cell phones. Others report that Android will be powering the electronics within cars in the future. I think this is where things get really interesting - think of all the devices that could be made network-aware.

4) Informa Telecoms & Media has predicted that Android smartphones will outsell iPhones by 2012. Given its open platform approach, I believe this will happen.

5) It has been reported that Acer will introduce a smartphone in September running Android. Mobile is one of the next big growth areas and you'll see manufactures building new devices for this space, many running Android.

While the iPhone has been a huge success capturing significant market share in the U.S., I think there will be a flood of devices released in the next few years running Android. In the long run, I think the fact that Android is an open platform will be a huge advantage and will help to build critical mass. Does this sound like the Apple/Windows OS wars of 15 years ago?

I haven't used my iPod for months, instead deciding to use my cell phone as my music player. Last month I got a G1 (unlocked on AT&T). Overall, it's a great phone, with excellent integration into the Google services, which I use heavily. However, when it comes to the hardware, I wonder if the design engineers actually use these phones. It amazes me that most phones (I'm not singling out the G1 here), even those specifically marketed as multimedia phones, still require an adapter for the headphone jack, unless you want to use the buds that ship with the phone. My G1 came with a miserable set of buds; the right and left cord lengths are different so they tend to pull unevenly and come out of your ears. And forget about jogging with them, they just refuse to stay in place. I think most people want to use their own headphones/ear buds, but then you have to use an adapter - if you're lucky, your phone comes with one - but even then it's one more thing to keep track of and hope you don't lose. The G1 does not come with an adapter, so I had to buy one for around $8 ($15 with shipping). The Motorola RAZR V9 takes the cake - it requires two adapters!

Now I'm sure it does not cost that much to design in a 3.5mm headphone jack. I know space is tight, but these are the kind of details that Apple gets right when thinking about the user experience. I firmly believe the cell phone will be the real competitor to the iPod for mobile music. But if companies want to make any real headway in competing with Apple, take the first step and ditch the headphone adapters.

Whether you are browsing through the music in your My Oomble account, in your actual phone or in iTunes in your Media Sources, don't forget that Oomble has a music player that you can always use to listen to your music while you are logged into Oomble:
Just select the particular song you want to hear, press play and let Oomble get to work!

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