What’s next for Google Android?

With the dust finally settled from last years T-Mobile G1 launch, the first phone to run on the Google Android operating system, the question on everyone’s mind is “what’s next for Android?” The Android platform has built up a healthy fan base thanks to a user friendly interface, relative ease of development and customisation plus healthy 3rd party support through the Android market (which, for the first few months, offered content absolutely free). So what does
he future hold for this exciting new platform?

The big Android news for 2009 will be all new mobile phones running the OS. Though the HTC developed G1 is a good solid phone, when compared with its stable mate the HTC Touch HD, there’s only one winner. HTC have confirmed that they are planning a “portfolio” of Android based phones in mid 2009. Fingers crossed for an Android Touch HD to materialise as the much rumoured T-Mobile G2. And what of the other mobile phone manufacturers? A Motorola (the top dog of yesteryear) spokesperson made the following statement “We’re excited about the innovation possibilities on Android, and [we] look forward to delivering great products in partnership with Google and the Open Handset Alliance (OHA),” confirming their intent to support the Android platform. Let’s just hope we don’t get an Android rehash of the Motorola V3.

On the more speculative side of things, Sony Ericsson and Samsung have both been tipped to launch Google phones at some point in 2009. Samsung are a member of the Open Handset Alliance (a group of organisations dedicated to developing open standards in mobile devices) and, according to sources, have upped the headcount in their Linux task force team. Android is derived from the Linux operating system together so putting 2 and 2 together would put a Samsung Android phone firmly on the cards. Here’s hoping they take inspiration from the fantastic Omnia. The Sony Ericsson news is more hear say and speculation than anything else but insider sources (I sound like a tabloid newspaper!) suggest a high end handset could be ready by summer 2009.

Away from the phone side of things, what’s new for the Android operating system itself? We previously reported that the Android Market would begin to feature chargeable applications which should entice key developers into developing for the Google Platform. What about the Smartphone market as a whole? Is there room for all these different operating systems? The departure of the Symbian UIQ OS (previously used in several Sony Ericsson smartphones) would suggest not. And with Palm set to join the game with their highly anticipated WebOS, it seems that there will be several different companies all going after the same slice of pie. Symbian is still the top tog but with Apple’s OS X, Windows Mobile and now Google Android all vying for your attention, 2009 promises to be a thriller in the smart phone market!

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