October 21st is the day Google's Android OS starts to become truly relevant. Before today, some developers had used the platform to develop applications for the T-Mobile G1 and other Android devices, but now Google has announced the availability of the source code of the operating system. While the geek speak is rather yawn inducing to regular consumers, the potential path down which devices based on Android may tread, and the potential ecosystem that could spring up around such devices, has developers and manufacturers alike licking their chops. And as device manufacturers create unique devices, consumers might see a completely different mobile phone environment manifest itself in a short period of time.

Google says, as promised, that the entire code base to Android is now open source, meaning any person who wishes can view, edit, upload, change, redistribute or otherwise modify the original source code of Android. While normal consumers won't be busy eyeing Androids innards, developers will appreciate the extent to which this changes the game. Developers are now free to edit the underlying core of the operating system, then redistribute it as they see fit. Instead of having to go through a costly process of licensing the technology directly from Google (which does have its own separate advantages like extended support), manufacturers are free to look at the source code and determine if the operating system fits their specifications without spending any money to acquire the original source code.

For manufacturers, the announcement means more flexibility when developing mobile phone hardware, as with enough time, the company could hire programmers to develop custom software to interact with the hardware. For consumers, the big win comes with device flexibility and choice. Consumers traditionally have had little choice when purchasing devices as to which operating system was installed. With Palm being the notable exception, where Windows Mobile and PalmOS versions of otherwise identical phones are created, most handset manufacturers develop devices tightly coupled to the operating system. Now device manufacturers could, in theory, create devices that run similar OSes, and let the consumer choose which operating system they prefer instead of locking them in to a single choice.

To delve further into the areas of consumer choice this opens up, not only will device manufacturers be able to offer more widespread applications on their phones, but if the standard catches on with multiple device manufacturers, Android could catch life as Windows of old, helping developers create applications for a wide base of phones without having to develop individual code for each device. Instead of having to develop an application specifically for BlackBerry, Verizon phones, or Windows mobile phones, developers could instead develop an Android compatible application, place it in the Android marketplace, and avoid pigeonholing themselves to one phone-specific platform, and also gain a simplistic distribution method from the Android Marketplace.

Consumers will get the first taste of Android through seeing the T-Mobile G1 in person (for a look at its potential influence, check out our earlier feature), but the true impact of Android won't fully be realized for at least another year, if not more. Not taking into account Android partners such as HTC or Motorola, non-official partners will likely build in the source to their devices on an experimental basis, but since phone manufacturing life cycles are sometimes a full year, Nokia wont likely officially support Android till well into 2009 at the earliest, if ever.

Fortunately for consumers, since the software is open source, users won't have to wait for Nokia's blessing to give the software a run-through themselves. If enough community members want to develop software, they won't have to wait for anyone (Nokia, Google or their carrier) to officially support the software; instead, developers can simply develop their own software, test it on their own devices, all without permission. High-end users can tinker to their heart's content, which tends to produce some extremely innovative and interesting software. Expect crops of users who already support rather niche devices, like the OpenMoko FreeRunner or the Nokia N95, to experiment with Android. If the communities deem the OS robust enough, I expect those two devices specifically to be running unsupported builds of Android as soon as possible.

Again, today's announcement isn't the consumer impact it can be just yet, instead it is simply the tip of the iceberg. Google is working hard to lay the foundations of an interesting mobile platform, and setting the stage for an interesting battle in the mobile space, but it's up to the developers to do the rest.

Do you think they can do it? Would you ever think about leaving your phone for a T-Mobile G1? What about if the iPhone could run Android, do you think that would work out well? Well, get it cracking: Sound off in the comments!