Google Android market available

Google announced plans to open the Android Market as its way to distribute applications for Android handsets. Rather than Apple’s review process required to upload applications, developers can upload their work and make it available for use and ratings by Android users.

The approach Google is taking is to enable the community to police itself through a ratings system rather than reviewing applications individually. If an application does not function properly, users will be able to rate and comment on the application’s listing in the Android Market which will cause other users to avoid installing it. The Android Developers blog likened the process to uploading a YouTube video.

This is one way that Google is trying to cater to their developer community, who reacted to Google’s Android Developer Challenge by creating nearly 1,800 applications before the phone has been released. Of these numerous submissions only 50 were awarded prizes.

Google has announced that it will release a Beta version of the Android Market that will come installed on the first handsets that will be released. The announcement also stated that the Android Market Beta will only support free applications, though they expect to offer paid services down the line. There is no word on when developers will be able to start submitting applications for listing.