From the minute it was introduced, Apple’s iPhone was destined to be a mobile music powerhouse given the device’s dual-role as an iPod. Competing smartphones have struggled to make that same mobile music connection, despite having many of the same applications and capabilities.

Supporters of phones based on the Android operating system from Google are getting some help in this matter through a number of recent partnerships designed to streamline their music capabilities. T-Mobile, the first U.S. wireless operators to embrace Android phones, is working with music management software company DoubleTwist. Under the deal, T-Mobile will both embed the DoubleTwist software in upcoming Android-based devices – including the new myTouch Fender special edition phone – as well as encourage existing Android users to download the technology.

DoubleTwist operates much like iTunes in that it’s used to create playlists, transfer files between devices, and otherwise handle all the music management functions needed on a mobile phone. Android devices have no default music management software, leaving users on their own to figure out how to interact with music on the phone.

DoubleTwist has emerged as a popular iTunes alternative for service providers. It earlier struck a deal with Amazon to provide its technology to users of the retailer’s MP3 store. Android users can also download a mobile version of the Amazon MP3 store to buy and download music but, again, it relies on users to find and download the app on their own.

In Europe, mobile entertainment firm Aspiro created an app to bring its music streaming to Android devices as well. And of course Spotify offers an Android app to provide paying members access to its on-demand streaming service.

While many streaming music services like Pandora have found huge success on the iPhone, others like DoubleTwist are finding more success on rival devices by offering them the capabilities needed to compete against Apple. Myxer for instance found that both Android and BlackBerry owners are far more active visitors its mobile content Web site than iPhone users. The company-which sells ringtones, videos, games and other entertainment content-says it saw seven times as many downloads to Android-based devices than iPhone in the fourth quarter of last year. The BlackBerry Curve is the top phone on the company’s site, responsible for 10% of all visits over the last two years. All BlackBerry devices combined represent 67% of the company’s traffic.

[via Billboard.Biz]