An Overview of the Android Platform
Posted by bryce21haley | Filed under Uncategorized
Google’s Android
In the past several years, Google has emerged as the most dominant entity on the web, with the clear lead in search engines. That pre-eminence was originally largely focused on PC’s (be they laptops or desktops) and an interesting and fairly recent development has been Google’s expansion into the mobile market and, in particular, smartphones. With its open-source Android operating system, Google has shown that it is cognizant of and interested in participating in the mobile marketplace to a greater degree than many other companies.
By making Android open source, Google positioned it uniquely within the marketplace. Prior to the release of Android, Google examined the mobile market place and realised that the mobile experience on many devices was lacking.
Apple, the maker of the iPhone, has been known to refuse to approve programs because they replace or augment integrated features of the iPhone. Android is a completely open platform that permits developers to create applications that utlilize any of a handset’s core features. The Android platform also provides extensibility to programmers, allowing their apps to share data from a number of sources including other apps, the web, and other mobile device users.
Google’s Android platform ultimately aims to re-create the familiar rich experience familiar to desktop PC users on mobile devices running Android. On several mobile hardware platforms, the system or environment is closed, allowing only programs approved by the manufacturer to be installed and used. In such environments, programmers have to attain certificates and other proofs of approval from the manufacturers; these certificates are often an additional revenue stream for the hardware companies. Under Android, developers can create and install any application they wish.This approach leads to reduced development costs and cycles, and in turn opens up the mobile market to many new developers. A core part of the Android strategy has been to encourage third party programmers to adopt and use the platform, benefitting Google, the third party programmers, and the end users.
The estimated 16-billion dollar web-based empire built by Google is extending to the mobile market place thanks to Android. Despite such limitations as smaller screens, mobile devices also have their strengths, such as the ability to offer location-based geo-targetted advertising. Because Android mobile handsets are always connected to the web, they can use location-based modules and applications.
While the Android operating system has many advantages, it also possesses some barriers to its success. One hurdle to the adoption of Android devices is the slowness that network carriers initally showed about the platform. When Google first released the Android platform in late 2008, it was solely available on the T-Mobile network with the expectation that other carriers such as AT&T and Verizon would adopt it fairly quickly. When this expectation did not immediately materialize, some thought the platform was doomed.
Since then, though, Android devices have expanded to be offered by other carriers, such as Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint.
The Android platform has lived up – and even exceeded – many of the hopes and dreams its user base initially had for it. It has led to new and innovative programs being developed and allowed more programmers to enter the market. Late in 2009, Verizon released new models of their phones that use the Android environment, marking a huge step forward. Google has the staying power, influence and vision to revamp the mobile market and with creative assistance from their hardware partners, they are likely to succeed.
Tags: Android, Google, mobile market, smartphones
Hello world!
Posted by bryce21haley | Filed under Uncategorized
Welcome to Blog.com.
This is your first post, produced automatically by Blog.com. You should edit or delete it, and then start blogging!
