The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Android Mobile Phones

By Author: Shilpi C
Total Articles: 10
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Google has made a remarkable entry in the mobile industry with Android Operating system. The Linux based Open Source OS is specifically designed for mobile devices featuring a working program, middleware, and key applications.

Android Inc. was the initial developer of the Software, which was taken over by Google in 2005. HTC Dream, the first Android phone was launched in the year 2008 and since then almost all the small & big manufacturers have launched their smart devices running on Android OS.

The share of Android in worldwide smartphone market has seen a whopping increase from 2.8% in 2009 to 59% in first quarter of 2012. With over 400 million Android devices sold globally, Android has become the most dominating OS in the market.

Currently, Android is the world's best operating platform and gives its users access to over 5,00,000 free & payable applications. Android undoubtedly is the hot-favorite in mobile phone industry. The loyal Nokia & BlackBerry users are switching to Android because of various advantages the OS offers. Though, there are some limitations of the OS that are being identified ...
... by geeks. We will talk about the pluses & minuses of Android phones in this article.

When it comes to buying a smartphone, we usually get bewildered because of the vast options available in market. And when it comes to choosing between Android, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, and iOS, the selection criteria toughen up.

User Interface

Operating an Android phone is no big deal. Nokia phones were known for their simplified user-interface and the position has now been overtaken by Android devices.

The Customization Flexibility

The good thing about Android is flexibility it offers. There are more than 5,00,000 applications on the Play Store and users can keep themselves engaged by downloading games, themes, social networking & business applications for free or by shelling out a few bucks. But, customization has a disadvantage too. When you get the freedom to customize a cellphone and have access to unlimited downloadable applications, there are chances that you might just mess it all. Since Android is open source, anybody can develop & post an application on the Store. This increases the chances of your device getting a bug along with the downloaded application. A bug can give remote access of the information stored in your device to a hacker or it can simple destroy your mobile phone.

The Software Part

Android phones have an excellent integration with Google Apps and it's possible to run multiple apps on your Android phone at once.

When we talk about cons, you will not be able to automatically synchronize Android phone with PC or Mac. It would require you to install a third-party synchronization application or manually sync the Android phone with desktop.

Version Updates

Google releases updates to OS versions after almost 3 months. The newer version has bug fixes, advancements, and more programs. These timely releases provide better experience to user. But, it is a hassle for those who can't afford to keep updating their phone with newer versions. You have to reboot the phone and there are chances that your device won't work properly after update because Android releases OS specific and not device specific updates.

It is undeniable that Android mobile phones have numerous advantages that overshadow its handful of limitations. The operating system will get mature with time and Google will get stricter on the areas where its open source platform is currently lacking.

The author is associated with Copper Mobile, Inc., one of world's top enterprise app developer companies. CopperMobile has created several successful and profitable mobile applications including AR 15 Builder App