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Android, which version, which handset, which app store?

Android was bought by Google back in 2005 and verbally sold to handset makers as a flexible, upgradable mobile operating system.

Google's (don't be evil) take on this was that they were bringing a mobile operating system based on a Linux kernel with their search technology to the masses, it would compete with Windows Mobile and Apple's iPhone operating system (now IOS) in the handset market.

Since Android was unveiled to the general public it has found homes on many handsets from HTC, Samsung and the ill fated Dell Streak.

With Google handing over operating system control to the handset makers though, Android has become increasingly fragmented with delays of months between a new version of Android being released and the hardware company adapting and offering that version for their handset.

The news this week is that Android 3 (AKA Honeycomb) will be released soon which will provide better support for tablets. The rumour mill is buzzing with the news that Honeycomb comes with hardware requirements which means that very few if any of the existing tablets and handsets will be able to run the new version.

This move is reminiscent of Microsoft's recent Windows Mobile strategy where WM6.5 handsets cannot be upgraded to WM7.

The larger problem for Android app developers is that there are several different application stores. Which means a headache for submission of new apps to the various platforms, and deciding which versions of Android to support..

Android may be gaining Market share on everyone else, but so did Windows Mobile when it first came to prominence after it supplanted Windows CE on handsets and mobile computers, but Microsoft dropped the ball through lack of a clear strategy.

Google needs to strike a balance between where it is now and Apple's total command of IOS to provide a common interface and experience to all users.
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