Android Application Development

Android is a relatively new mobile phone operating system made by Google. Android is open source and is used on mobile phones made by several manufacturers. Whilst still not as popular as Apple's iPhone, Android currently enjoys the fasted rate of growth of any smartphone OS. Each day over 60,000 new android devices are activated around the world so it is clear that the Android mobile platform is growing fast.

Some of the advantages of Android phones are:

• Multi-tasking is possible.
• Complete access is given to the operating system resources so almost anything is possible.
• It is an open-source operating system.
• Apps are written in Java.
• Great user interface.
• Touch screen.
• Flash will be available in newer handsets.
• It is easier to find a Java developer than developers of most other mobile languages.

From a mobile app developer's point of view the great thing about Android is the flexibility and openness that enables virtually anything to be done, which is not possible on more restrictive platforms such as on the iPhone. Also, apps are written in Java, which is a much more commonly used language than Apple's Objective C.

But, why should you look for a developer to make an Android app? There are still nowhere near as many Android users as there are iPhone users but the numbers are increasing rapidly and are already starting to rival the other major smartphone OS's in terms of the smart mobile phone market share. All signs are that Android usage will continue to grow so to reach the widest possible audience with a mobile application, Android apps have to be considered.