Essential Guide To Understanding Android Phones

By Author: Lucy Carter
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The Android operating system and platform was developed by Google for mobile devices. In collaboration with the Open Handset Alliance, a collaboration of 71 software, hardware and telecom companies, the technology was unveiled in 2007.

What makes Android technology so interesting is that it's based on advancing open standards and applications for mobile users. In other words, no single company owns it. Using a Software Development Kit, developers (whether novices or specialists) are encouraged to write programs and applications that extend mobile functionality further than ever before. Android is quite simply a revolutionary open source platform that can run multiple apps at the same time and in the background - what this means to you is that multitasking is simplified and your mobile functionality is more seamless; you can also download a wealth of fun and useful applications for your phone through an ever expanding library.

In comparison, most other mobile phones run on far less complex real-time applications, They have been hampered in their cutting-edge competitiveness by strict proprietary rules - developers ...
... interested in creating programs for the iPhone for example often encounter legal barriers because what they invent can closely resemble applications owned by Apple.

The first Android phone was the T-mobile G1, released in 2008. Since then, they have been rapidly gaining in popularity, with more and more manufacturers bringing out their own versions. Current figures reveal there are 200 000 new Android activations daily, 80 000 applications to download and 21 manufacturers globally.

Choosing the best Android phone

There is now a wide variety of Android mobile phones and service providers to choose from. To decide which one will best suit your needs, you need to consider three main factors:

1.- Usage - your mobile habits are a key factor in the Android model you'll be happiest with. If for example you're a textaholic or often email on the go, you'll be suited to a handset that includes a hardware keyboard rather than being purely touchscreen. If you listen to alot of music, you'll want a mobile with a dedicated headphone jack.

2.- Service Provider - as many Android phones are exclusive to a particular service provider, your choice needs to include the ones that are reliable in your area.

3.- Cost versus Compatibility - if budget is a factor, previous generation releases will still be impressive but less pricey than the newest models. Beware of getting one of the earliest handsets however, since they might not be able to run Google's latest applications.

Main Benefits of Android mobile devices

Tailored fit

With a wealth of widgets and animated live wallpapers to choose from, the Android platform lets you customise how your phone looks to suit your personal style. You also have a large say in how it works. Examples include choosing your personal dialling mode, photo viewing and the range applications you use. Since developers can freely create new applications on top of the platform, you will be able to tailor a wide variety of user experiences on your mobile phone - in essence, there can be thousands of variations of the same operating system tweaked to your particular tastes.

Sharing

Because Android technology is open source, it allows you to share applications with friends and family across all networks that use it.

Standard Platform

Android technology gives developers a standardised means of inventing new applications without having to worry about different platforms which are not compatible with each other. What this standardisation means to you is it helps with application innovation and sharing - in other words you will not only have access to the coolest new features to download, you will also be able to let your friends enjoy them as much as you do.

Support

Open platforms such as Android attracts a wealth of developers to jump on board and contribute, which equates to an impressive amount of support on tap for help with applications and their configuration.

Price

Open platforms are by nature a lot less pricey than off-the-shelf or mainstream devices. While this is not immediately apparent with Androids so new on the market, in time users will notice a significant cut in price for these types of phones compared to mobiles with fixed operating systems such as Palm OS or Windows.

The above information explains exactly what an Android phone is and outlines why people are increasingly excited about them. With more and more of these types of mobile devices being released on the marketplace, it's a good idea to shop around to find the best deal possible as well as the best model to suit your individual needs.
Barry Knightly: owns an android phone retail and repair outlet.