Google (NSDQ: GOOG) shared its plans today for how it will distribute applications mobile phones running its Android operating system, and it sounds startlingly similar to Apple’s (NSDQ: AAPL) App store. Google wrote today on the Android developer blog that it will be called Android Market, “an open content distribution system that will help end users find, purchase, download and install various types of content on their Android-powered devices.”

Of course, the marketplace is designed to solve a critical problem that developers face—getting in front of the consumer. It will work like this: Google will make the content available on an open service hosted by Google, and create a feedback and rating system similar to YouTube. To get your content in the market, developers will have to follow three steps: register as a merchant, upload and describe content, then publish it. On the issue of calling it a “market” instead of a “store”, Google took a jab at Apple by explaining: “we feel that developers should have an open and unobstructed environment to make their content available.” Google also said it will provide developers with an analytic dashboard to track how their app is doing.

On the business side of the house, details are foggy. Google said that the first phones will have a beta version of Android market, and at the minimum, it will support free applications. After launch, Google will work towards adding paid content and more features, such as being able to upload a new version of the application. But who knows what kind of revenue splits we are talking about. Currently, Apple splits revenues 30/70 with the developer, and T-Mobile USA, which is expected to launch a store soon, plans to base its revenue split on how much bandwidth the application uses. 

Yahoo’s (NSDQ: YHOO) losing two more of its senior executives, this time from its mobile division, which falls under the heading of Yahoo’s Connected Life. Steve Boom, SVP of Connected Life, who reported to EVP Marco Boerries, and Gary Roshak, VP of mobile advertisers and publishers, are both leaving the company to pursue other opportunities, a Yahoo spokesman confirmed. Boom will leave at the end of the month, following CTIA. Roshak left Aug. 1.

Roshak was immediately replaced by David Katz, formerly Yahoo’s VP of corporate strategy. When contacted, Roshak confirmed his departure, but declined to say what he was doing next. Meanwhile, no replacement has been named for Boom, who’s been at the company for a decade. “He’s been with the company for 10 years and wanted to look at new opportunities,” a spokesman said. “We are continuing to push forward and have strong momentum. Steve believed he could leave us in the capable hands at the company.” Boom’s departure was first reported by TechCrunch.

In June, Yahoo announced a broad reorganization, but said that Yahoo’s Connected Life division would stay untouched, so likely these departures are outside of any internal decisions. Besides, Yahoo’s mobile division has been continuing to make strides in both mobile search and advertising. In an interview earlier this year at the company’s headquarters, Boom walked me through the company’s mobile strategy, and in two weeks, Yahoo will make a big splash at CTIA with Boerries kicking off CTIA with a keynote and separate press conference. Last spring, Yahoo keynoted at CTIA in Las Vegas, where it unveiled voice-enabled search for OneSearch.

Zi Corp.’s license agreement with Nokia (NYSE: NOK) for predictive text services has been renewed and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Nuance Communications, which makes speech-based technology for customer service, directory assistance and voice-activated commands on wireless devices, has been dogged in its pursuit of the company in recent weeks, trying to acquire it first through a takeover bid and then blasting it with a patent infringement suit after it rejected the offer. The contract calls for a “significant initial payment to be paid after closing and then quarterly installments from then on,” the mobile ad and search firm explained in a news release on the multi-year deal. (Release).

• Nuance Sues Zi Corp. For Patent Infringement Days After It Rejects Takeover Offer
• Nuance Communications Offers $40.5 Million For Mobile Ad Firm Zi Corp.

TV viewership didn’t drop off in Canada during the Olympics despite a jump in mobile and online access, the Canadian Press reports. CBC generated more than 46 million page views during the Olympics – nearly double the 27 million page views it registered during the 2004 games. The CBC website had just over 1,500 hours of Olympics coverage, which clocked a total of 3.2 million live streams and 1.7 million on-demand streams, the company said. All this and 24 million people still tuned in to watch the Olympics on CBC Television, CBC Newsworld and the network’s bold channel, the broadcaster said.

Scott Moore, CBC’s executive director of TV sports, told CP: “You want to drive people to the Internet and give them more information on the Internet, and then bring them back to the network. I think we did that very well… I think it shows that viewers want to be able to access content where and when they want it and that won’t hurt television numbers.” (Release).