Smartphone platform profile: Google Android

September 2010 | 18 pages | ID: SD91C5E2F32EN
Ovum

Abstracts

This profile looks at Google’s Android platform – an open-source software platform for mobile phones and other devices – from a mobile operator, handset manufacturer, and developer perspective.

Contents

Executive summary
In a nutshell
Ovum view
Rapid expansion and huge market share gains
Version iteration causing some fragmentation as platform races towards maturity
Android Market is now placed second for available apps
Android will proliferate on non-smartphone devices
Android market position
Android handset shipments to reach 110 million by 2015
Android allows differentiation, but at a cost
Version fragmentation is a problem
Customization risks consumer alienation
Commercial developers need to be profitable
SWOT analysis
Strengths
Mobile operators
Handset manufacturers
Developers
Weaknesses
Mobile operators
Handset manufacturers
Developers
Opportunities
Mobile operators
Handset manufacturers
Developers
Threats
Mobile operators
Handset manufacturers
Developers
Customer base
Mobile operators
Handset manufacturers
Technology overview
Android is built on Linux and a derivative of Java
Limited support for native development
Google has built its own version of Java
Oracle legal action against Google
Android releases
Chipsets
ARM
Intel x86
OHA membership

List Of Tables

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Android platform releases
Table 2: OHA members

List Of Figures

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Android shipment forecast: 2009–15
Figure 2: Number of models released by Android version: 3Q09–2Q10
Figure 3: Total Android handset models: 1Q09–2Q10
Figure 4: Android models by vendor: 3Q09–2Q10
Figure 5: Overview of the Android software architecture
Figure 6: Android models by chipset vendor