ARM Community: Android, the next universal operating system? - ARM Community

Coming back from CES and MWC, I found that Android is not a handset OS any more; I have seen Android in so many different form factors: handset , eReader, tablet, smartbook , STB etc. Since Android is an open source platform, anyone can customize it based on their own needs. Some of our software partners are providing Android customization service to the device manufacturers.

ThunderSoft spoke with me at MWC about their work with an Android tablet:



China may become the largest market for Android

When I talk to many Chinese companies, they are all are very excited about Android because they have been suffering from lack of a software stack for a long time. It costs too much to maintain their own version of Linux and applications are always an issue. Android just fills the gap. Google maintains the whole system, so that many application developers are supporting it and the OS is free. As I was curious about Android’s potential growth, I asked a question to our silicon partners and OEM partners: “What OS do you want to use for your new chipset platform/smartphone?” The answers are all the same: “Android”.

Android for feature and smart phones

Our partners in China are working on modifications of Android for different devices. For the phone, we know the current Android smartphones in the market are all based on ARM11 or Cortex-A processors. While many medium-sized and small OEMs in China focus on feature phones rather than smartphones, feature phones have higher volume with a lower price. They have seen that Android could be the differentiator for the current feature phone market with a lot more applications. Some of them have ported Android on a 400MHz ARM9 platform. I have played with it and it runs OK; maybe not as smooth as ARM11 or Cortex-A platform, but what do you expect for a USD 100 feature phone? An Android based connected PMP has already been launched in China.. Mobile internet is becoming a key selling point for the current consumer electronics manufacturers and Android is very quick to deploy.



Android in Set Top Boxes

STB manufacturers also are interested in Android. Some of them already have started to develop the solution. The driving reason? Again, accessing the internet. Android is an internet application and service-centric OS for them: it’s easier to use internet on Android and the service is easy to be deployed. One of the operators in China even is thinking about unifying their STB platform with Android. I believe that in the near future, there will be many Android based devices in the market.

If you’re looking for some of the partners that support Android, ARM has more information in their Solution Center for Android .

Applications will be the challenge

Applications are always key for an open system; it’s the same for Android. There are many developers making applications for Android worldwide, and it is growing very fast. But for those new device categories, what applications are needed and how to delivery them will be the challenge. For example, Android for STB , it will definitely need applications which are different from phones. And as we know, Google only allows the Android market in phones, not other devices. There will be many new app stores for the new devices from OEMs, operators or service providers. I have seen some local app stores for Android in China that provide a lot of local applications in Chinese. I have two on my Nexus One, and there are pretty useful.

I believe it will definitely be a booming year for Android; not only for phones, but also for a lot new devices. For any device that needs internet, Android could be a choice…Maybe it will be the next universal OS?

Let me know your thoughts.

Rock Yang, Mobile Computing APAC Business Manager, ARM, He focuses on the business development and Marketing activities of ARM Mobile Computing market across APAC area especially China. Aiming to push the convergence of mobile and PC industry with the latest technology and business model from ARM. Rock has more than 7 years' experiences in Telecom and wireless industry.

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