Absolutely: Android is as powerful as a BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and even an iPhone. It is true that Google is the main promoter of the Android operating system, but this is an open system, which means that there will eventually be countless applications available for Android.

As you begin to add apps to your phone, a good place to start is Google Apps. There are four (4) Google apps available for most mobile devices free of charge. They are Google Search, Google Maps, Google Gmail and YouTube. These apps are very popular and have been around longer than Android. They have been optimized for the Android platform, but you will find that Google apps are available for most other platforms. In the past, I’ve used them on a Windows Mobile device and have Google apps pinned to my Today screen.

The next logical question is this: What else can an Android do besides Google Apps? I recently got my hands on a T Mobile G1 and have been downloading some “free” games and apps for this fantastic Android device. There’s plenty to choose from, but you’ll find it takes time and patience to find something worth keeping.

The best thing you can do is start by considering what you want to bring to Mobile. If you’re like most people and interested in social media, you obviously want to bookmark mobile sites for Facebook and Twitter. There are also many other third-party app categories like Diet & Fitness, Travel & Entertainment, Work & School, etc.

For example, if you like to diet or exercise, you’ll find some apps available for Android, but the options are more limited than for the BlackBerry or Windows Mobile platforms. This is mainly because the Android OS platform hasn’t been around long enough for developers to convert their existing products.