My T-Mobile G1 is already a smartbook, is it not?

Let me explain.Â I can surf the web, check e-mail, download and listen to podcasts, keep up with facebook/Twitter friends, use a variety of instant message clients, use Gmail as a word processor (in a pinch) and actually use this same device as a fully functional telephone.

Big deal, so is the iPhone, right?Â Yes and no. It can do all the above functions but, at the most two maybe three at a time. I routinely use the G1 for simultaneous activity and connectivity.Â Â This is the inherent beauty of what Google has allowed their developers and community to develop around Android.Â And because it is built on the Linux kernel there is no question about its reliability and security.

So based on the form factor and ability many of Android’s phones may actually qualify as a smartbook: not quite a netbook but it can also be used as a full PC on the go with 3G and WiFi capabilities.

Add my Seidio extended battery to the mix and the device power is raised exponentially.