Google's Android Moves Beyond the Smartphone

While Google's Android operating system hasn't yet caught fire in the mobile arena, it is already moving beyond smartphones into a totally different arenas. PC World reports that Acer plans to launch a netbook with Google's open source operating system. And if Acer can beat its rivals, it will be the first to deliver Android on the netbook.

Netbooks are the natural step into the PC world for the Android operating system. With Android's buzz, open source philosophy and lack of a price tag, it would be the perfect choice for creating a sexy and cheap netbook.

But netbooks aren't the only arena into which Android is expanding. MIPS Technologies has announced that it will be demoing a version of Android that runs on its architecture at Computex Taipei this week. The MIPS platform is primarily used for specialized devices like set-top boxes and DvD players.

And while the T-Mobile G1 is currently the unofficial 'Google phone', Information Week says to expect up to 18 different Android-based smartphones to hit the market by the end of the year. And this may be the tip of the iceberg in the smartphone market. Because it is free and open source, Google's Android operating system is a perfect step for smartphone manufacturers looking to customize the experience while keeping costs low.