Google's Andy Rubin Dishes On Windows Phone 7Google's Andy Rubin Dishes On Windows Phone 7

Microsoft is set to unveil Windows Phone 7 on Monday at events in New York City, London, and other locations. Make no mistake, the launch is a big deal for Microsoft, which badly needs recapture mindshare and relevancy in the smartphone space.

Though few people outside of Microsoft and its handset and network operator partners have handled the new operating system, many are offering their thoughts on it, including Google's Andy Rubin. Rubin is the mastermind behind Google's own Android platform.

In an interview with PCMag, Rubin said, "Look, the world doesn't need another platform. Android is free and open; I think the only reason you create another platform is for political reasons."

Microsoft has spent several years and millions of dollars to completely overhaul Windows Phone. Microsoft has long been a player in the enterprise market, but has seen its market share erode to competitors RIM, Apple, and Google. Microsoft can't afford to lose out in the smartphone space. It is more vital than ever, especially with the rise of cloud-based services.

Rubin, of course, was sure to talk up Android's benefits over that of competing platforms, "Why doesn't the whole world run with [Android]? They don't like the people who developed, or "not invented here," but [Android] is a successful, complete, vertically integrated free platform. I encourage everybody to use it."

Rubin, however concedes that more choices for consumers is a good thing. "Competition is good for the consumer and if somebody has an an idea for a feature or a piece of functionality in their platform and Android doesn't do it, great. I think it's good to have the benefit of choice, but in the end I don't think the world needs another platform. What Android is particularly good at that I think some of the other platforms lack, besides being open, is it's really a platform that's enabling a bunch of services."

May the best platform win...