Android, the next generation in mobile platforms?
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Early November 2007, Google and its many alliance partners announced the “soon to be available” new mobile device Operating System platform named; Android ! No doubts that this new Operating System will will cause some commotion in the engineering world and require of the different OS developers to reposition their Smartphone platform.
There are currently four different platforms in operation in North America: RIM with its BlackBerry platform, Palm with its TREO platform, Microsoft with is Windows Mobile platform and with a much lesser adoption rate, Nokia with the Symbian platform. The new Android platform will more than likely affect the future developments of the Microsoft and Nokia platforms and more than likely have a much lesser impact on the BlackBerry OS. Google and its Open Alliance partner may succeed in imposing their new standard where other competitor such as Microsoft and Nokia had very poor adoption rate with their Operation System for mobile devices. Nokia’s Symbian platform is having great success in Asia and Europe but North Americans prefer the easy integration of the BlackBerry and Palm OS to Outlook.
Microsoft with its recent introduction of Windows Mobile 6 platform is starting to make some headway in the corporate market, but this OS requires acquiring new users’ licence which in turn raises the cost of the device. The BlackBerry OS has a high adoption rate when it come to large corporations, but the lack of solutions adapted for the SME and autonomous workers still places the RIM devices in a scarce market position.
If Android satisfies the market expectations, so far all is pointing in this direction, this new OS could very well steal an important segment of the Smartphone Operating System market place. The strategy to adopt an Open Source Code approach results in significant savings for phone manufacturers, software developers and mobile carriers.
Android also offers really interesting advantages for mobile solution developers and end users. Conceptually the possibilities offered by this platform are impressive: GSM network connectivity, compatible with 3G and WiFi with the possibility to display many multimedia files such as; MP3, MPEG4 and H.264. Don’t forget access to GPS features and benefits and an integrated digital camera. One of the most interesting innovation of this platform is that it will have its own data base management system. A portable version of MySql named SQLite is fully integrated to the Android platform. Stay tune over the next few months as we will track the evolution of the platform and discover what engineers and developers will make of Android.
By Benoit Descary. Adaptation Yves Levesque.
