Android comes north

Google's Android smartphone platform (finally) comes to Canada.

Rogers announced today that they are releasing two Google Android-based smartphones in June, the HTC Dream and HTC Magic.  Interesting to see this, as Rogers is not part of the Open Handset Alliance.

Why do I care?  It seems to me that Android, like the iPhone is really pushing the envelope for mobile computing in a smartphone form factor.  Features like programmable in Java, touch screen, GPS and WiFi support open up a whole new spectrum of potential applications.  Also, we've been stuck with a walled-garden Internet experience from Canadian wireless carriers for a long time - Android knocks the wall down by opening up the Internet proper to smartphone users.  Cool!

Now all we need is an unlimited monthly data plan from a Canadian wireless carrier....sigh.