January 22, 2009 by Matt Thomas
Towards the end of 2007 Google unleashed Android, an operating system for mobile phones. 15 months later, the first phone to run on Android, the Samsung G1, is on the market and many more from companies like Sony and Samsung are expected to follow this.
The really clever thing about Android, and the major reason I think it’s going to eventually dominate the market, is the fact that it’s completely open source. Developers have free reign when it comes to building applications and programmes for it, and placing it in stark contrast to the apple iPhone which runs on a closed system, whose software remains closed to third parties.
This spirit of cooperation also translates to Android’s other main advantage, the Open Handset Alliance. Despite the fact that it sounds like something out of Star Wars, the OHA is a very powerful group of 50 handset manufacturers, component makers, mobile operators etc. formed by Google and committed to an open-source approach to mobile technology. The group contains some very big names like Sony Ericsson and Vodaphone.
At least four OHA members plan to bring out their own Android powered phone this year. If just one of them is capable of competing with the IPhone then Apple have a big problem on their hands.
Related posts:
- Apple controls two thirds of Mobile Internet use
- Google’s Mobile Profits up 150% From Last Year as They Prepare to Dominate in Mobile Search, Ad and OS Markets
- Google Mobile App Launch delayed by Apple engineers
- Vodafone – HTC deal in the offing
- Google Announces Acquisition of Motorola Mobilty
- Apple are becoming a real mobile-gaming force
