Well, Android has finally released its SDK on behalf of the OHA (Open Handset Alliance) and we have been told to expect to see handsets by the first half of 2008. Google has sponsored the Developer Challenge to help jumpstart the Android programming community, and it seems to be working. So, what are the Android handsets shaping up to look like?
Well, most of the units Ive seen, both in the Android SDK tutorials, and in various videos, are either fully touch-screens, possibly with a slide out keyboard, or, and this is the most common one, something to the likes of a BlackBerry, but it looks like its from HTC, has a larger touch-screen and other than that is just thinner. So, when you buy one later next year, you are going to want accessories.
Obviously Cases are accessories, and I firmly believe there will be a plethora of them either prior to, or in conjunction with the release of the first Android based handset. But what you are really interested in is how you can make your Android phone do more with accessories.
Android is an open platform, so, the hardware available for use in conjunction with the device, well, its near limitless, in fact, if you wanted, you could make your own handset, good luck getting it activated with any carrier, but you could probably do it. So you could hack a full keyboard to work with it, make it like a computer and hook it up to a larger monitor, attach barcode scanners and other such devices, those possibilities are endless.
In the end, it will come down to the basic accessories. Obviously the device will have Bluetooth, and will probably charge and connect to your computer via USB or some sort of dock connector.
Those two facts open the up accessory market for chargers, both for your car, home, and PC. They also open up the market for docks, both for connecting to your PC and, since it will probably have lots of media functionality, connecting to various entertainment devices. The Bluetooth allows for such accessories as Bluetooth headsets, Bluetooth speaker systems, Bluetooth headphones, and connection to speaker phone systems such as those being integrated into a large number of vehicles these days.
Other accessories will likely include screen protectors, various cables, memory cards of some format, and much, much more, whatever the hacking community comes up with. For more information on the Open Handset Alliance, Android, or possible handsets the OS will land on as well as programming ventures, or apps that people have come up with, check out AndroidCommunity.com.