Google's Android joins three-horse mobile race

Google's launch on Monday of what outsiders had dubbed the "Gphone" takes the search giant into competition with both Microsoft and Symbian.

The Android software stack, which is based on a Java-over-Linux platform and which will form the basis for a new generation of mobile devices, has attracted considerable interest across the industry. Many software developers are gagging to get their hands on the software development kit, which is due for release next week.

Also of interest, however, will be the three-way battle which is now taking shape. Both Symbian, the leader in mobile-device operating systems, and Microsoft, provider of the Windows Mobile platform, have plenty of cause for concern, for the new Android on the block could pose a considerable threat to both.