• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, January 5, 2009

Building on the openness underlying its Android mobile platform, Google is allowing users to propose ideas for new mobile product features through a new Web site. 

The Product Ideas page for Google Mobile allows Google users to submit and vote on mobile features they would like to see the company develop.

Through this Digg-like rating system, "we'll be able to see more clearly what's important to you and we'll take it into consideration as we move forward with developing our products," according to a post on the Google Mobile blog last week. "The Product Ideas team will pop in from time to time to see what you have to say, and we'll be offering periodic updates on what we see and what ideas make it into your favorite products."

Among the most popular ideas posted so far are a mobile application within Google Maps that speaks driving directions, the ability to sync Google Calendar with the iPhone, and a Google Reader application tailored to the iPhone.

Given that Google's Android-powered G1 phone competes directly with the Apple device, company executives may find it unsettling to see so many mobile product suggestions related to the iPhone.

Launched in September, the highly anticipated G1 offered by T-Mobile USA was expected to ship 1 million units by year's end. Google also opened the Android Market--its answer to Apple's App Store--offering more than 50,000 applications for the Android mobile operating system.

In addition to Apple, Google is also vying with Web rivals such as Yahoo, Microsoft and AOL to establish its popular online services and applications on mobile devices. It has already grabbed roughly a 60%share of the mobile search market.

Since kicking off the Product Ideas site in mid-December, Google Mobile staff wrote in a separate blog post that the forum has attracted "a lot of creative, interesting ideas" for making products better. In response to one proposed idea, the company hinted that it may extend the concept beyond its mobile arm.

"While we're kicking off this initiative with Google Mobile, we hope to extend Product Ideas to more Google products in the coming year," according to the Dec. 23 post on a new blog tied to the new site. "Given this is the first time we've embarked on such a mission to make your voices heard, we'll be closely monitoring Product Ideas and your feedback."