3:18 PM -- Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)'s mobile operating system, Android, is already shaping up to be one of the stars of the show at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas.

It probably won't be Google, however, that does most of the legwork displaying the OS and applications because third-party developers are already leaping on the Android bandwagon. Handsets and services based on the platform are expected to be available in the second half of 2008. (See Study Touts Google's Android.)

For instance, McObject LLC has just announced that its Perst open-source mobile database has been verified as compatible with the Google platform. (See McObject Intros Perst.) Here's an emulation of what the software will look like on a handset: Meanwhile, PacketVideo Corp. has told me that it will be showing off an Android-related demo at the show. I wouldn't even be surprised if we saw some mocked-up or prototype Android devices down in Glitter Gulch too.

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Unstrung