When Google first announced Android in 2007 the tech world was happy to see someone take on Apple's revolutionary iPhone. Google seemed to have created something that was everything the iPhone was not. This new innovative platform was open and free for developers to make of it what they wanted, at the time no one could see that the very thing that made this mobile operating system so great could one day harm it.
When talking about the mobile phone market it is impossible to not mention Apple, and this post is no diffrent. Weather you love them or hate them you have to admit that the current smart phone would not exsist as we know it without the iPhone. When Apple relesed their take on what a phoen should be it proved to be the most lucrative smart device due to its condumer friendliness, which is one thing Android lacks. Apple is great at keeping their lineup simple: one design, one OS, different memory options. When someone buys an iPhone people know what they are getting; people dont have to think about anything else but choosing their memory. The Android OS provides the conplete opositte experience.
Software Fragmentation:
Upon the realese of the G1 advertising the OS it had became a major selling point for many people, but now that Adroid is so advanced there is a fragmentaion due to all of the different hardware and software options the consumer has. Someone might go buy the BackFlip with AT&T because they heard it has the same operating system as the Droid on Verizon, but they dont. The BackFlip is running an old version of Androind even though it is a newer phone. It seems like companies want to offer basic hardware with outdated software and just use the name assciated with it to sell, but this will backfire when people are unsatisfied with the product because it may not be able to play newer applications or be as responsibe the newer models. Another thing that Apple did amazingly well is keeping the interface simple and because of that anyone can just pick up an iPod Touch, iPhone, iPhoe 3G, or iPhoen 3GS and use it. Because Google created such an open platform people are skinning the crap out of Android. I have personally suffered the frustation of having to adjust to use a different device with the same OS. This may not seem like a big deal but the average consumer will not be happy if they see how the visuals vary so much between devices. After all this phones are being advertised as Android devices but they vary so much in OS versions and looks that to the non gadget gurus out there they will all look so different that the frustation could just make them settle for the iPhone.
Hardware:
One thing that is great about the freedom Android has is the ability to choose a piece of hardware that you like and fits your preference best. If you want a QWERTY keyboard you can have one, if you just want a touchscreen you can have that too. The different spectrum of hardware available would be a plus if the software was consistent.
Apps:
Many people think that applications do not matter because either the iPhone had none at launch or because a phone is not about apps. That is true to a certain extent but you have to think about how the first gen. iPhone was revolutionary, most people had a RAZR and back then they where starstruck by the touchscreen goodness in present day even the most basic phones have touchscreens. The thing that made the iPhone so successful was that it made a smart phone that anyone could enjoy; people nowadays want a gadget that can do it all and apps are a way to make sure this happens. With that said... It is predicted that by the end of 2010 the Android Market Place will have about 150,000 applications available, but depending on what device you have the number available to the consumer will be a fraction of the total. So you may hear from a friend about some awesome app he got for his 2.1 device, but you have a 1.6 device and it will not work. The problem is that companies tell you how many apps are available but they "forget" to tell you not all of them will work with your spankin' new phone because it has an old OS. It may not be a big deal to you but for the blissfully ignorant people out there this is a pain in the butt and another reason to get an iPhone.
While Android is a great operating system in all its forms, it does not have what the majority of the costumers want. The fragmentation created by the industry is a consumer nightmare, because making a choice is so difficult and leaves plenty of room for unhappy users. My humble opinion is that Google should take control of its OS and stop this possible killer now before it is too late. I am not saying that Google should follow Apples lock-down method but do require some hardware and software specifications so it has a chance to complete with other mobile OS' in the future.