Thursday, March 1, 2012

Android on fire at Mobile World Congress, but not just for westerners

Android
Google's Android logo has been ubiquitous at Mobile World Congress 2012.
As Google's govt chairman Eric Schmidt ready to require the stage for his Tuesday Mobile World Congress keynote, journalists within the US were receiving an email from Apple inviting them to the iPad three launch event. It's safe to mention the link between the 2 organizations continue to be.. difficult.


Apple could have drawn a number of the limelight off from Schmidt's speech, however MWC has been nice deal|substantially|abundantly|pretty much} Android's show – and not simply because its great frenemy does not have an officer presence here.

Android is on a tear without delay, and there are varied pointers at the display. that functions the statistics – 300m activated Android devices, 850k a lot of on a daily basis and 1bn app downloads a month – and conjointly the spectacular latest wave of Android devices from Samsung, HTC and alternative makers.

The Android stand is thrumming with activity, together with an array of developers talking enthusiastically regarding Android as an OS and as a business chance. Which, of course, they might – they are on Google's stand as guests in the end – however it is a mood I've conjointly caught from developers elsewhere at MWC.

The majority of developers I've met say they're that specialize in iOS and Android. In fact, the 2 are usually run together: "iOSandAndroid" is certainly a mantra (although for interest, an honest range maintain to mention they are actively considering Windows Phone as their third platform).

As in 2011, Google has scattered robot-logo bins of Android pin-badges round the MWC halls. The treasure hunt could have lost its surprise issue second time spherical, however it still makes its purpose effectively, contrasting Google's network of partnerships with makers, operators and technology corporations with Apple's a lot of aloof stance.

That's to not say one is preferable to the opposite – the reality is that each corporations are succeeding vastly – however the pin-badges do hammer home Google's speedy progress in embedding itself within the mobile business. Schmidt's speech conjointly elicited a notably hotter response from MWC delegates than he has within the past, when Google was still seen as a threatening foe instead of a partner by the mobile operators.

There are still wrinkles within the Android strategy, when it involves apps and developers. variety of the booths on the Android stand are showing made 3D games, for instance: simply the issue to indicate off the quad-core processors within the coming back wave of Android devices.

Yet these games are more expensive to create, at a time when the need for paid apps on Android remains a controversial discussion. maybe the richer content can facilitate produce a healthier marketplace for paid Android apps, or maybe these developers can realize success by adopting freemium business models. it's still early days.

Actually, though, the foremost attention-grabbing issue regarding Android in relation to developers and apps isn't what is happening within the US, UK and alternative well-developed smartphone markets.

One of Schmidt's key points in his speech was the march of Android into cheaper handsets within the season forward. "Many of our lovers are doing on phones within the $100-$150 vary. the last word goal may be a $70 device," he told delegates, whereas stressing that this might mean $20 or $30 for customers, once operator subsidies.

A burgeoning marketplace for low-cost Android handsets – yes, though they don't seem to be running the newest version of the OS – may produce extremely attention-grabbing opportunities for apps in areas like Chinese suppliers, Indian, Latina America and African-american. And this is often while not talking regarding the potential for reasonable tablets in those places.

Some of the apps taking advantage is also those that are common within the western world – Rovio is definitely alive to the potential of obtaining its next 800m Angry Birds downloads from increasing marketplaces, for example. however the chance is perhaps a lot of regarding native developers in these countries, creating apps that are relevant to the markets.

This is by no suggests that an open goal for Operating system. Western correspondents and technical people haven't written enough regarding what Nokia is doing with its Asha handsets, that are simply as vital to the company's future as its Windows Cellphone technique, for example.

However, one amongst the key trends at Mobile World Congress this year, for me, is that Android's success shouldn't be judged solely against iOS, though that rivalry is clearly front-of-mind for each corporations at the instant.

Supporting each platforms is increasingly a given for startups and developers within the western world. however it is the developers elsewhere within the world who is also beginning with Android as their lead apps platform who are simply as vital to Google's mobile prospects within the years to come back.

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