Android Market opens with the first Android phone

The T-Mobile G1 went on sale today with Android Market built in, creating a software storefront for the first commercially available Android phone. Users can browse applications, read descriptions and install downloads directly from the handset.

Google introduced the Market as an open distribution system rather than a tightly screened catalog. At launch, developers can make applications available without a charge; paid software is promised for a later update. Early listings range from games to location and productivity tools.

A central catalog matters because a smartphone becomes more useful after it leaves the store. The G1’s hardware will age, but a steady supply of downloadable programs could keep changing what it does. Google’s lighter gatekeeping may encourage experimentation, though it also places more responsibility on users and on Android’s security design.