Android fragmentation here in India

Google Android is somewhat of an open source platform. You can download the source code. You can compile it on your own. You can run it on any device you want.

Google has not put any restriction on what kind of hardware can run it. They are not controlling the whole Android ecosystem.

The only control is over their own mobile applications and the usage of the official Android Market that can be delivered only on certain conditions.

All this ‘openness’ has created an unusual problem for the mobile users.

Mobile phone makers are free to sell devices with whatever edition of Android they desire. A lot of devices are still being sold in the market with outdated variants.

Sony I believe is still selling their smartphones with Android 1.6. Dell Streakis being sold with Android 1.6.

Android 2.1 update for both of these are set to be issued in the near future.

Dell recently launched two Android devices (manufactured by ZTE though). Both of these are powered by Android 2.1. Samsung Galaxy S is being sold in the market with Android 2.1 though Android 2.2 update is set to arrive. Most HTC devices in the market are also being sold with an outdated version of Android.

Google itself releases Android builds for only one device… Google Nexus One. They do work with their partners on launching updates for other models.

But the problem largely is that these updates are usually delayed. For years in some cases as we have seen with Sony Ericsson smartphones.

Indian customers have not suffered much (if we leave out Sony Ericsson customers). Most of the devices in market are currently based on Android 2.1 which is not as bad as Android 2.2 release.

But the problems are going to magnify in the coming months. Android 2.3 is set to arrive. Google would probably release it first for the Nexus One. The rumored Google Nexus S would ship with it.

No one can tell when it would be released for the popular models that are on sale in the market. Samsung and HTC have a decent track record when it comes to issuing updates. Sony as we have already explained has been a disaster on this front. It is hard to say about Dell. They have confirmed the Android 2.1 update for the Streak. But no one can tell if they are going to update their just launched Android smartphones to Android 2.2 (and Android 2.3). It is even harder to imagine what would happen to Android phones being sold by smaller companies like Videocon who are probably just selling re-branded devices manufactured in China.

I personally own a Google Nexus One. One of the primary reasons I went for it was the Google brand associated with it. It was pretty clear that Google would be responsible for issuing updates for it so it was an easy call for me.

But if I am to buy a new Android smartphone in the market today… It is a pretty big gamble if I want my phone to stay up to date with the latest edition of the Android. We have seen cases where companies have promised the update but nothing came out of it.

My advice to anyone looking to buy an Android phone out there… Stick with newer models from Samsung and HTC. That lowers the risk.