A new report shows the Android market share by version is improving. Â While more devices are running Android 2.1 (45%), there are still 54% of the users on version 1.5 and 1.6 combined. Â While Google does not want to talk about fragmentation this problem could not be more obvious. Â The issue is a different user experience across devices and versions. Â Additionally, this impacts developers building applications. Â The result is either building for the lowest common denominator or different functionality based on versions.
I don’t look to this as a Google problem rather a carrier issue. Â Carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint & many others) are the main problem in getting updates to devices in a timely manner. Â I believe that Apple has solved this problem with the iPhone; Google is addressing with the Nexus One; and Microsoft hopes to hammer this home with Windows Phone 7. Please, Please, Please remove the carrier from this process.
The further bad news in this report is the fact that in just a few short weeks there will be a release of Android 2.2. So how long will it take for the carriers to catch up to this release. So before everyone starts poo pooing the Nexus One as a failure, keep in mind you probably will be on an older version of Android then the N1 will. Â Google has hinted at slowing down the device update process to annually and this may help the stars align. Â It is hard to keep up with a quick release cycle but it has been amazing as the market has not become stale.
{ Image from phandroid.com }