Yet Another Man’s Blog

Over the past decade, Google has become the dominant force on the internet, processing over one thousand million search requests per day.  However, Google’s web dominance only extends to desktop PCs, which might be slowly being replaced by mobile devices, with over three times more mobile devices than desktops being sold every year.  The Android is Google solution to extend its reach into the rapidly expanding mobile market.

The open source property of Android is Google’s unique selling point. Google recognised that the mobile experience at the most part is not as good as the desktop experience as a result of the restrictions put on mobile application developers.  Apple, the manufacturers of the iPhone were known to refuse to approve third party programs because they replace integrated features of the iPhone. Android is an absolutely open platform that may allow developers to create applications that decision upon using any of a handset’s core features.  Android also aims to present developers the tools to innovate by allowing applications to mix information from lots of sources corresponding to the web or other mobile device users.

The Android operating system aims to bring the experience users enjoy on desktop PCs to the mobile world. Mobile devices operate on a closed system where only applications approved by the manufacturer may be installed on devices. Mobile applications developers are often forced to procure code-signing certificates, which cost both money and time. With Android, developers will probably be ready to install any application they develop instantly. The reduction in development costs will open up the market to new developers. Since Android’s success hinges on how third party developers react to the open system, the more developers ready to develop for the system, the easier for Google.
Google has a 16 billion dollar advertising empire on the net and seeks to transfer this to mobile devices. Although smaller screens pose a challenge to advertising space, mobile devices also offer new opportunities, as simply by their mobile nature location based adverting can be utilized to market nearby services to potential customers. All Android devices can be constantly connected to the internet to use location-based services.

For the entire promise of Android, there are several barriers to its success, a few of that have already begun to electrify its probabilities of success.  The most important barrier to Android’s success is the sluggishness with which network providers are adopting Android devices.  In 2008 when Google launched its first mobile device on T-mobile, it was widely thought that they’d quickly enter into partnership with larger mobile network carriers equivalent to Verizon and AT&T. Their failure to do that has led to a slow uptake of Android devices by consumers, as T-Mobile is purely the fourth largest carrier inside the US.

Mobile network providers can be reluctant to go into into partnership with Google because several applications developed for Android completely circumvent their services leading to a lack of revenue. The most important example of it really is Google Voice, which permits users to send text messages through their phone’s data plan. Because of this there isn’t a need for a Google voice user to have a text-messaging plan with their network since Google Voice offers what’s essentially free text messaging.

The Android operating system has also encountered resistance from manufacturers for a considerable number of reasons. Some manufacturers feel that the an open source mobile operating system threatens their very own pre-packaged applications as network operators and users can be capable of completely re-customise an Android phone, rendering manufacturers’ own applications useless. To compete effectively manufacturers would like to manage to differentiate their phones and feature a singular identity.

Some manufacturers fear that the emergence of a mobile operating system with none licensing fees could lead to an influx of latest manufacturers into the market as license fees act as a barrier to entry to new firms. This can cause a lack of market share for the prevailing firms.

Google’s Android has fulfilled portion of the promise it had when it was first unveiled. It has result in new and innovative applications being developed and allowed more developers to go into the market. However, it’s yet to live as much as its potential. Whether it is to succeed Android needs the support of more manufacturers and mobile network providers. In November and December 2009 Verizon and Motorola launched a brand new phone using Android, that’s a step within the right direction. Google has the influence and vision to thoroughly revamp the mobile market and with assistance from their hardware partners, they’re prone to succeed.