Google's Android mobile platform will indeed have a so-called Android Market embedded in it, as we reported yesterday. Presented as "a user-driven content distribution system," Android Market was unveiled for the first time, in screenshots and details, on the official Android Developers Blog.

 

Somehow similar to the App Store that Apple is so proud of lately, Android Market will allow mobile users to search, browse and download third party applications for their Android handsets. Contrary to expectations, not all the products found on the Market will be free, as some developers might (and certainly will) choose to sell them for whatever price they like. Still, the existence of this "Google App Store" is definitely a good thing for all those who are waiting the Android handsets to be commercially available.

 

Hosted by Google itself, Android Market will "function" in the same way YouTube does, coming with a rating system as well as the ability to provide feedback on any application included in it. You can register, upload your application(s), enter its (their) description and wait for visitors to check it (them) out and download it (them). Or, if you're not on the developers' side and you're a simple user hungry for Android stuff, the Market's interface is said to be easy to use, allowing you to easily find what you need.

 

Since the Android platform is open-source, anyone can develop apps for it (assuming that everyone knows how to develop software, of course). This might lead to a huge range of applications and programs that will populate the Android Market – hence lots of choices and more chances to find really cool and useful programs.

 

The first Android handset to be commercially available (presumably the HTC Dream / G1 for T-Mobile USA) will come with a beta version of the Android Market. Until this hits the stores, though, you can take a peek at the screenshots showing how the Market looks like.