Android The Most Popular Mobile Platform Computer Science Essay

Introduction

Mobile development platform is a technology that enables mobile developers to create of production and processes that support present and future development of mobile applications. In the assignment, I will compare three of the leading mobile development platforms in the market which is Android, BlackBerry, and Java ME with analyses on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for each of the different platforms.

Android SDK

Android is the most popular mobile platform in the world. Android delivers a complete set of software for mobile devices; an operating system, middleware and key mobile applications. (“Android Overview”, Open Handset Alliance 2010)

In 2005, Google acquired the startup company Android Inc. to start the development of Android platform for mobile. The Android SDK was first release in November 2007. Google announced the availability of Android SDK Candidate 1.0. Google offers a comprehensive software development kits with a variety of packages that are available a la carte under the Android SDK Manager. In October 2008, Android is an open source and Google releases the code under Apache License. (“Android Overview”, Open Handset Alliance 2010)

STRENGTHS

Google – Google is one of the most well known technology company in the world. Android is backed up by Google in collaboration with Open Handset Alliance. Most of the potential partners, venders and developers will believe that Google will give more attention and credibility on Android OS compare to other mobile OS because of the brand.

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Device – Unlike the Apple’s IOS where you have the only one option for hardware supplier which is Apple Inc. The Android OS is open source and it is compatible with most of the devices such as Samsung, HTC, Sony and etc. This will provides consumers wider choices from which manufacturer to choose to buy their devices.

Open source – The Android OS is built from a Linux based using JAVA language for the programming. Most of the developers, especially freelancer they will choose to develop mobile application by using Android where we can get the information and source code easily. This makes developers to create many free Apps for Android market (Currently known as Goggle Play Store). (“Android SWOT analysis”, Arun Kumar 2012)

WEAKNESSES

Multimedia Support – Android Multimedia Support is less unlike the Apple which has centralized in iTunes application and marketplace. Android does not have a central source of multimedia material.

Upgrading of OS reliance on mobile manufacturers – When Google releases a new version of Android OS, it has to wait for the mobile manufacturer to make a compatibility test and modify the code to make sure it works properly on their hardware configuration.

Least of security- Since Android Application development is open source, so it was always prone to external threats like malwares.

OPPORTUNITIES

Compatibility – Android OS not only compatible with mobile, it also compatible for tablet PC and e-book reader. There have been several release of Android tablets over last few months from computer machine manufacturer such as HP, ASUS, Dell and ACER.

Developing Countries – Google has a huge opportunity to develop inexpensive devices using the Android platform in developing countries. (Hylander 2010). Android also has high potential growth in Asia and Africa Countries and it has triggered up the sales of smart phones and tablet PCs.

Developer friendly – Android give the opportunities to developers to develop advance application and earn some revenue from the sales of application and advertising.

THREATS

Competitive – There were many competitors in the market are going to fight with Android for their share of the market. For example, Symbian, RIM, iOS and Windows.

System Crashed – Downloading of application from un-trusted website may make the operating system crash or affect other application in the smart phone.

Android’s cheaper initialize installation in low cost mobile phone which will affects the buyer compared to other platform such as iOS in IPhone.

BlackBerry

BlackBerry is a brand of wireless handheld devices and services developed by Canadian telecommunications company Research In Motion (RIM).(RIM 2012) The first BlackBerry device, an email pager, was released in 1999. (Davis, Jim January 20,1999) Most of the BlackBerry devices are well known in their send and receive push email and instant messages ability especially the BlackBerry Messenger service. They are also designed to function the devices as personal digital assistants, gaming devices and so on.

STRENGTHS

BlackBerry is a recognition brand of mobile development platform.

BlackBerry Messenger allows their users to text unlimited with no extra cost.

Several types of form-factors available in BlackBerry mobile phones such as small keyboard, large keyboard, flip phone, candy bar and no keyboard.

BlackBerry is an encrypted military-grade security platform, with 100% market share at FBI, CIA, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, major consultancies and major investment banks. BlackBerry is the only one platform approved for use in US national security agencies. (Raman885 November 2011)

WEAKNESSES

BlackBerry has a poor applications store experience which is not able to install on all devices. Most of the applications which are available for iOS and android devices are not going to be available for blackberry mobile platform.

BlackBerry is a business oriented phone, most of the fun application available for other markets but not for blackberry devices.

There were two different operating systems between touch screen devices and non-touch screen devices.

OPPORTUNITIES

BlackBerry Partners Fund is used to make applications are downloadable from independent companies which might be help to gain more market share.

BlackBerry World is the most profitable mobile application store for developers.

BlackBerry has the ability to perform synchronization of email, calendar and contact with compatible servers.

THREATS

The main threat facing by BlackBerry is their competitors which include iOS of Apple, Android platform of Google, Windows Phone from Microsoft and other mobile development platforms.

JAVA ME

JAVA ME also known as Java platform Micro Edition. Java ME provides a flexible environment for application running on mobile and embedded devices such as personal digital assistants and mobile phones.

STRENGTHS

Java ME is offering flexible environment for multiple mobile application.

Java ME included the object-oriented programming features make large programs easier to write.

Java ME is an open sources platform for mobile development.

WEAKNESSES

It is not a complete development platform but just a virtual machine.

JAVA ME only limited to embedded and small devices such as mobile phones.

Java ME is only mostly open source whereas android is completely open sources.

OPPORTUNITIES

It enables developer to build sophisticated applications for multiple applications with confidence.

The most popular and widely accepted development platform for wireless devices from leading phones manufactures.

THREATS

Android development platform is the main threats for Java ME platform especially the user interface android support touch screen smart phones.

Most of the developers may choose Android instead of Java ME as the platform because of the number of users of android OS phone are increasing.

Conclusion

The most ideal platform that I choose is Android mobile development platform. First of all,