Most phones with App Stores require an account to be made before apps can be downloaded using the store. iPhone's App Store requires this and Nokia's Ovi Store are well (the Ovi account includes mail and other services like Google, not sure about Apple). So this is certainly not unique to Google. However with an iPhone you cannot install Apps from outside the App Store without Jailbreaking ... with Android you can download .apk files individually from external sources. So the Android way is a bit less restrictive than the Apple way, you can still install apps without a Google Account.<div>
<br></div><div>Matt</div>