Mobile Computing News

Photo: Android

Google Android, as a platform, has set itself the lofty goal of unseeding Apple’s OS and RIM Blackberry’s OS as the most widely used mobile OS platforms in the world. The fact that that Android has around 30,000 apps available for the platform now indicates they certainly are chasing the competitors, but the big unanswered question is what percentage of these Android applications are actually quality?

Quantity vs. quality

While Apple is far out in the lead with over 140,000 apps at the last count, Google has about 30,000 in response. With the general consensus being a very small percentage of those apps available for the iPhone are worthwhile, the number of applications does act as a signpost for how committed developers are to the platform, and how lucrative they think it may be.

Photo: Apple

And, though manufacturers like HTC, Motorola and Samsung have publicly indicated their commitment to developing handsets for the Google Android platform, it is widely believed that applications and mobile OS platforms is where the current generation of mobile phones will be decided, and not entirely on handsets alone, as was the case in the past. So much so that research2guidance, a research firm, predicted the apps market, including Android applications, may grow to a colossal $15 billion dollars come 2013.

The handsets to match

Photo: HTC

While early Android handsets like the G1 were wholly underwhelming, recent handsets with phenomenal processing speed, great UIs and sturdy, appealing builds have emerged over the last six months or so. The Motorola Droid was the first of these ‘next generation’ Androids, being well received and briefly becoming the flagship Android phone on its release. Google has since eclipsed it with its Nexus One and HTC’s current lineup, consisting of the HTC Legend and HTC Desire.

Insofar as Google is able to find a way to manage its market place so that the best applications bubble to the top, the company will create an encouraging platform for developers and the auxiliary effect will be making their platform more compelling. Doing this will continue to eek out the market share Google Android has been so successful in getting.