With smartphones becoming the fastest growing mobile phone segment and tablet PC market touted to see massive growth this year, the Android platform stands fi rmly in the center of the revolution. Just as the mobile platform space was settling into clear segmentations, Android has made the industry sit up and take note. What is it that makes Android a stronger contender in a space which boasts of big players like Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, Apple's iOS, Symbian and Linux? We look back and trace the route Google took to revolutionize the face of mobile computing.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Way back in 2005, a start-up company named Android, which was developing mobile applications, was acquired by Google. A Linux-based mobile device OS was developed as a fl exible, upgradeable system, and released as the Android platform in 2007. The project has been backed by the Open Handset Alliance, which features over 80 hardware, software, and telecommunications companies to help make the movement interoperable and platform-friendly.
THE CURRENT SCENARIO
Three years later, the technology is all set to give the industry leaders a run for their money. A com-parative analysis from Gartner reveals that in the smartphone segment, Android has seen a sales growth of 888.8 percent from 2009 to 2010. However, the report states that the OS will have to wait until 2014 to take over the current market leader, Symbian, which is down, but not completely out of the scene.
APP'S THE WORD
The greatest advantage of using an Android-powered smartphone is that it isn't "locked" by some service provider or telecomm network. This means that you can download what ever you want, pick a service provider of your choice and opt for an Internet surfi ng data plan that suits your pocket. Moreover, accessing its kernel root (as a superuser, through a process called rooting) and playing around with the fi rmware is completely legitimate (not recommended, unless you know what you are doing). The platform also allows you to legally tether your phone, making it a Wi-Fi hot spot for your laptop or PC to access Internet with ease. If you don't have the desire to do a fi rmware based upgrade, but want to use the features that are available, you can turn to the Android Market. The Market has an app for everything that you can do with your Android device and the availability of apps is not really limited to the Market. There are several resources you can turn to but be sure to
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Way back in 2005, a start-up company named Android, which was developing mobile applications, was acquired by Google. A Linux-based mobile device OS was developed as a fl exible, upgradeable system, and released as the Android platform in 2007. The project has been backed by the Open Handset Alliance, which features over 80 hardware, software, and telecommunications companies to help make the movement interoperable and platform-friendly.
THE CURRENT SCENARIO
Three years later, the technology is all set to give the industry leaders a run for their money. A com-parative analysis from Gartner reveals that in the smartphone segment, Android has seen a sales growth of 888.8 percent from 2009 to 2010. However, the report states that the OS will have to wait until 2014 to take over the current market leader, Symbian, which is down, but not completely out of the scene.
APP'S THE WORD
The greatest advantage of using an Android-powered smartphone is that it isn't "locked" by some service provider or telecomm network. This means that you can download what ever you want, pick a service provider of your choice and opt for an Internet surfi ng data plan that suits your pocket. Moreover, accessing its kernel root (as a superuser, through a process called rooting) and playing around with the fi rmware is completely legitimate (not recommended, unless you know what you are doing). The platform also allows you to legally tether your phone, making it a Wi-Fi hot spot for your laptop or PC to access Internet with ease. If you don't have the desire to do a fi rmware based upgrade, but want to use the features that are available, you can turn to the Android Market. The Market has an app for everything that you can do with your Android device and the availability of apps is not really limited to the Market. There are several resources you can turn to but be sure to
