Though I disagree with Russell on some things, like Linux vs. Mac. He knows the mobile market exceptionally well.

In this post he nails the real test of Google’s Android OS.

”Simple test: Will you be able to take the Android OS as it exists on Monday and hack it so it runs on an existing device? Will there be hacked Windows CE devices, or even the odd phone running the OS that day or within the week? That’s the supposed differentiator between Google’s offering and established mobile operating systems out there: Windows Mobile, Symbian, Moto’s Linux variant, the iPhone OSX variant, etc. None of these guys will let any joe just take their code and install it on any device they want, right? If the GOOG isn’t full of BS, then that’s what we’ll see in a few days.”

(Via RussellBeattie.com - The simple test for the Android OS.)

Interestingly, a commenter on Cranky Geeks may have nailed the real motivation for Google pursuing the Android coalition.

They are simply trying to disrupt the market in order to maintain their dominance as they race into mobile advertising.

To keep Facebook, Yahoo and everyone else guessing and running in circles.

After all, Google cleverly pushed the bidding up on Microsoft’s Facebook investment and walked away, making Microsoft look desperate.

Is Google the new Microsoft?