Google Plans to Unify Android Fragmentation?

By on March 29th, 2010 4

Android has made quite the splash in less than a year. Multiple handsets have been released (HTC Magic/Dream, Google Nexus One, DROID/Milestone) along with multiple Android OS updates as well. The journey is still a bumpy one for Google though, as each handset has its own limitations with accepting the latest Android OS updates.

In Canada, the fiasco with Rogers and the HTC Magic/Dream is a perfectly illustrated point. When too many players are involved things take too long to get done. How is Google going to fix the current issue with Android handsets and firmware? It’s a nightmare for Android app developers as they have to choose from up to four different versions of Android OS to run with–fun times!

According to Engadget’s conversations with Android followers, it’s going to be a two-pronged approach:

  1. Google will simply stop developing new Android versions as fast as it has over the last year (1.5, 1.6, 2.0 and 2.1 were released in less than a year).
  2. Google plans to shift development to focus on applications. The latest applications bundled with new OS updates will be available to older phones through the Android Market–bypassing handset makers and mobile carriers.

The next Android release is codenamed Froyo, where Google will start this implementation. The release following Froyo will be Gingerbread. Geez, these codenames are making me hungry. ;)

Google needs to step up and unify all these Android handsets and get them on the same page with the same updates. Dealing with carriers is just another roadblock that causes delays for consumers. Kind of like how Canada had to wait FOREVER to get official access to the Android Market.

What do you think? How can Google improve the user experience for its Android users?

[CNET]

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Categories: Android Firmware, Android Phones, News

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  • http://www.4r4nd0mninj4.ca/ 4r4nd0mninj4

    I believe Google is doing the right thing by bypassing the carriers and releasing the phone directly to the customer. Carriers are not equipped and or not willing to provide service and updates in a reasonable time frame. Also we the customer will no longer have to deal with crippled, bug-filled software, long waits for inept-non-English-speaking-customer-service-reps, and locked down phones.

  • csaunders

    This is probably the right way for Google to go. We've seen how Apple has done it for the iPhone and how they have managed to keep the majority of their users running the most recent firmware which makes a developers life much easier.

    Google needs to step up to the plate and come up with a solution that will allow them to get around the Carriers and give the users of the Android platform the features they want (and need).

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    Apple definitely got the unified and seamless user experience down for the iPhone, even though their hardware had its limitations. If Android can match and essentially mirror the Apple-model for firmware updates across the entire line up of phones, I can see it becoming more of a threat to the iPhone.

  • http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

    Apple definitely got the unified and seamless user experience down for the iPhone, even though their hardware had its limitations. If Android can match and essentially mirror the Apple-model for firmware updates across the entire line up of phones, I can see it becoming more of a threat to the iPhone.