RealNetworks today is offering a sneak preview of its new Rhapsody music app for Android devices at the GDGT event in New York City, a move that comes just three weeks after the company won approval for its iPhone application. Perhaps more interesting is that the company -- for the first time -- is providing the initial numbers of downloads of the newly-launched Rhapsody iPhone app.

RealNetworks spokesman Bill Hankes said the app is off to a "good start" with 200,000 downloads in the first 20 days. Many of those, he admits, are existing Rhapsody subscribers and people who are taking advantage of a seven-day free trial.

The iPhone app is free to install, but requires a $14.99-a-month subscription to Rhapsody To Go.

Nonetheless, Rhapsody -- which won approval from Apple despite its obvious competition with the built-in iPod on iPhones -- has come on strong. It is now ranked second --just behind Pandora -- in the music category in the app store.

As to the Android app, Real said they will be showing off Rhapsody on the MyTouch and G1 phones tonight. (Hankes said it will work on the new HTC Hero and other Android devices as well). Hankes said there are no new features in the Rhapsody app for Android, though the user interface is quite different.

Eventually, Real also plans to bring the app to Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices.

Meanwhile, speaking of Rhapsody, BusinessWeek reporter Arik Hesseldahl this week makes the case that RealNetworks should sell the music unit to focus on mobile software and casual games.