Rich Miner, manager of Google's mobile platforms group, says the new Android-based mobile phones are more flexible than the proprietary Apple phones since the so-called open system allows applications from other software makers, The Times of London reported Saturday.

Miner said the first Android phones are due out late this year.

"It's great that people are finally building tools so all of these third-party applications can be built and get out there, (but) there are things I saw people doing with the first version of the Android SDK that it seems like you can't do with the iPhone -- at least at the moment," Miner said.

The Times said the Android SDK was made available online last November and Google officials say it has already been downloaded more than 750,000 times.