Android and the Smartphone Economy

The Android operating system from Google seems to be finding more and more acceptance in the smart phone community. Nielsen, a respected leader in measuring consumer confidence, has released the latest statistics in smart phone adoption recently. Overall, 43% of all smart phones and over 56% of new smart phone purchases in the last 3 months have been Android. The Nielsen statistics show a growing trend of consumers choosing Android over iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and WebOS, but why?

Android developers have a much easier time generating content for the Android OS than Apple or Windows Phone developers, namely because the Market for Android apps has a streamlined and non-invasive approval process. The Android Market model has its pros and cons such that apps are available quickly, but there are times when some apps that show up for the masses to purchase are simply the worst example of an open system. Fortunately, El Goog is quick to respond to reports of apps that should be removed. The current Market model shows excellent promise with 24 hour returns on purchases and an ever developing catalog that lend more strength to the Android OS.

The Android OS has gone through many iterations over the past few years much to the chagrin of users. The different versions have led to fragmentation of the Android OS to the point where hardware manufacturers are unable to maintain handset support for any reasonable time. This issue is being addressed by Google in their next OS version codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). The new version of the OS will bridge the gap between tablets and handsets as well eliminate some of the physical hardware differences, instead choosing to integrate several of those functions into the core. This fragmentation issue has plagued Android for long enough, and the new direction that the OS is headed will only further the consumer adoption of Android in addition to the newest hardware developments.

Android as an operating system is really only as strong as the hardware that runs it. Apple is limited to their own hardware (using the term limited loosely as Nielsen also reports that the top hardware manufacturer is Apple. Manufacturers like HTC, Motorola, and Samsung to name a few create innovations in the hardware industry that help drive the market forward. Sadly Apple seems to resort itself to increasing the visual appeal of their products while keeping the technology grounded in the standard. NFC (Near Field Communications) isn’t exactly new technology, but Android handsets are beginning to make real use of it and bring it up to a standard. Innovations such as NFC help propel Android handsets into more and more consumers’ hands as the functionality and value of the product increases.

The hardware and software of Android handsets as well as tablets is driving the entire smart phone economy forward. As more consumers indicate their smart phone preference with Android purchases, the pressure increases on Apple, Microsoft, HP, and Rim to improve their products to compete. This pressure brings the cost to produce products down, raises quality, and inspires innovation. In this smart phone economy, all indications point to Android keeping a dominant position with quality hardware, software, and development that all consumers can find incredible value in.