I, for one, welcome our new Android Overlords

The Open Source nature of the Android platform was the true focus with ample time given to the subject. Third-party applications are viewed as the heart and soul and the real future of the platform. There were even third-party developers present such as CompareAnywhere, ShopSavvy and Ecorio. It is apparent that the goal here is to create the most robust platform ever, and to Google, that means opening it up for all.

Slashgear: T-Mobile G1 Android powered phone is packed with features; Open Source is focus

What we are seeing is something that I wrote about in 2004:

Another example are cell phones, which were once very expensive. However now, after some time, cell phones are given away, and access to the cellular network is charged. The cell phone becomes a commodity, and access is charged. After some time, even access becomes commodified. Then there is diversification in content. Beyond diversification of content is free content and sale of the viewing public, as in the television model.

- Vision 2011: Towards Network-centric Preaching

Sale of content we see with the iPhone and the iTunes store, and with Amazon mp3. What Google is aiming for is the next level. The phone is free. The access is a commodity. The content is free or extremely low cost, and you are being sold, to advertisers.