The first Google phone is a few weeks away....and it's just the beginning. Bloomberg Boot Camp, a report on today's technology. The first mobile phone that will use Google's Android operating system, the G1 from T-Mobile, is due to arrive on October 22nd. And while it has been getting a mixed reception from the technology press, the open-ness of Android may be the key to its success....against the likes of Apple, Research in Motion, Nokia and Microsoft. Rich Miner is Google's mobile group product manager...

"We're not focused on comparing ourselves to other platforms as much as looking at what's really needed in the mobile phone space and helping to deliver a very powerful and innovative platform. I think a key differentiator with Android is, unlike other platforms, with it being open source, it really isn't controlled by any one entity. And what that's going to do is it's just going to enable a lot more innovation. When somebody controls a platform, it just in various ways always seems to impact the ability for somebody to be innovative on top of that platform. Given that Android will be completely open source, we really hope that it's going to be the predominant platform that sort of leads the innovation path from an architecture standpoint of the platform itself, but then also from the types of applications that you see on it...the types of handsets and other devices that are based on it."

And as for how Google will make money on it.... Miner says that will come eventually....as more people connect to the Internet with mobile devices. The G1 will sell for 179 dollars. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.