Will Android live up to the hype?

Will Google's Android prove to be the wireless industry game changer that everyone seems to think it'll be? All signs point to "yes." After all, by this time next year, you'll likely be able to get an Android phone no matter what carrier you use. Both T-Mobile and Sprint will carry Android devices, Verizon will likely "certify" a few for use on its network and AT&T customers will be able to simply pop their SIM card into an unlocked unit. From everything that we've seen, Android's OS definitely has a lot of that attention-getting "wow" factor and that will force other developers to play catch-up with their mobile UI. The same goes for third party application support: with Android serving as an open alternative, everyone from Apple to Nokia will have to loosen restrictions on user-installable applications. It's not yet clear whether or not Android will be an unqualified success, but there's little doubt as to whether or not it will move the industry forward.