Android Operating System for Smartphones

Android operating system for smartphones and tablets has become the market leader in a short period of time. In general, the smartphone market is highly volatile, with previous leaders like Blackberry and Palm succumbing to first the iPhone and then to Android. Smartphone technology, more or less, combines computing functions with a mobile phone. This combination has proven compelling to consumers as they are able to do more computing while mobile.

This technology has represented a shift in consumer habits that has not only taken technology of this type mobile but has also revolutionized the way that consumers interact with the technology industry. New revenues streams in the form of subscriptions and applications have been opened up, the result being that the mobile industry has been taken over by smartphone technology and consumers are more oriented towards doing anything on demand, no matter where they are or what they are doing.

The Android was developed by Google in response to that company's dissatisfaction with the operating systems present in the mobile space. The main point of differentiation that has allowed Android to dominate the market is that Google has licensed Android out to a large number of manufacturers. The other major competitors in the smartphone market -- Blackberry and Apple -- have proprietary operating systems. This means that most hardware manufacturers are effectively shut out of the smartphone market, until Android gave them the opportunity to participate.

The second point of differentiation is the strength of the Android operating system itself. The OS is effective and it is easy for developers to work with Android. The latter point, combined with the system's rapidly growing market share, makes a compelling case for developers to create applications for Android. The more applications an operating system has, the more attractive it is for consumers. Only Apple can challenge the number of applications that Android has, and for the most part Apple is harder to work with than is Android.

By opening the system up to a number of manufacturers, there is a wider range of Android-powered devices available. Manufacturers seeking to operate in the high-end nice put the Android is technologically advanced phones to challenge the iPhone. But Android is also available on low-end devices. This is a market unserved by either Apple or Blackberry. The low-end market is especially popular in the developing world -- consider that India now has an Android tablet priced at $60.

By virtue of covering all price ranges in the market, Android is poised to take a dominant share of smartphones. In addition, the differentiation that its manufacturers are engaging it has propelled Android smartphones into a position of technological leadership, challenging Apple and surpassing Blackberry. Consumers appreciate the structure of the Android product, even going beyond the basic price and innovation concerns. With Android devices, consumers are not tied to a relationship with any one company.

This stands in contrast to the Apple and Blackberry business models, which emphasize the tied nature of the product. Android users are able to switch between manufacturers and they are able to work with whatever software they want as well. The only competing open operating system is Microsoft's mobile version of Windows. However, Google had first-mover advantage with Android, getting to market before Microsoft arguably doing so with a better product. While Microsoft is expected to compete in this space for years to come, it simply was unable to match.