In 2005, Google acquired a small company known as Android Inc. This marked the beginning of Google’s entry into the mobile technology market. Android is an open source operating system, which is based on Linux technology. By 2010, Android had become the world’s leading and fastest growing smartphone platform. At the end of the third quarter of 2012, it was estimated that more than 500 million devices using the Android operating system had been activated.
The use of this open source operating system has brought many benefits to mobile device users and developers. Below are the top 5 benefits of Android OS;
- Freedom to use the software.
- Application on multiple devices.
- 4G network support.
- Ability to use and choose between third party applications.
- Freedom to modify the operating system.
Smartphone and mobile device developers can freely use and even change the operating system to suit their standards and needs. This means that the use of this operating system opens the way for other cell phone manufacturers to make use of the technology.
Some of the mobile device developers using this operating system are Motorola Android and HTC. These smartphone manufacturers have been able to design mobile devices that use custom user interfaces that run on the base Android technology. In addition to this, mobile device developers can also create their own apps that are meant to enhance the features of the operating system or simply modify them to fit the apps on their devices.
What this means is that mobile device users can enjoy the operating system using different devices from different manufacturers. This is one of the aspects that have contributed to the rapid growth of Android-based mobile devices.
Also, the open source operating system is not restricted to a single device. It can be used on phones, tablets, laptops and also ultrabooks. The first Android phone designed for the US market was the HTC T-Mobile G1. Many other phones have been designed by other manufacturers and growth prospects are high.
Mobile phone manufacturers using the Android operating system are pioneering ways to improve the design features, capabilities and components of the devices. This allows end users to enjoy advanced features and applications.
Also, the Android open source operating system supports 4G networks like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-mobile. What this means is that users can enjoy fast Internet connections at affordable costs. Users also have the ability to choose the wireless network they would like to use, giving them the option to adopt the connectivity that suits their needs and budget. In addition to the ability of other mobile device manufacturers to freely use the open source operating system, they can also change it.
Google has been very supportive of any innovations other mobile device manufacturers introduce and has even funded such innovations. The reason why Google has chosen not to get involved in the design of mobile devices may be because it wants to focus on its core business, which is advertising and brand promotion through the Internet.