10 reasons to love Google OS

What's the secret of the Google Android OS?

Having conquered the online search universe, Google has now set its sights on achieving the same in the mobile phone market. Its secret weapon: the open-source operating system Android.




Widely customisable, Android is a developer’s dream. With a top notch web browser on board and the ever growing app Market, the number of Android phones is increasing rapidly. As a result, Google has the iPhone firmly in its cross hairs.


As more Android offerings make their way into the mobile phone domain via MWC, see below for 10 reasons to love Google Android



1/ The Google Nexus One

This Android phone produced by Google and announced during CES, has yet to hit UK networks, but as you’ll see from our Nexus One review, it lives up quite well to its 'superphone' billing..


2/ The price

SIM-free Android handsets range from £250 to £450. You can get the HTC Hero for free with contracts costing upwards of £30 a month – much cheaper than the iPhone.



3/ The interface

The original Android interface is nothing to be sniffed at, but companies are free to tweak it and to develop their own interfaces. They’ve created some true beauties – notably HTC’s Sense skin, found on the Hero and Tattoo.



4/ The apps

The majority of apps available on Android Market are free. At last count there was in excess of 20,000.



5/ Google Docs

Word processing, presentations and spreadsheets for free, with multiple users able to edit documents



6/ It’s open-source

Android Marketplace is opensource, so anyone can develop apps without having to go through an Apple-style approval process. Head to android.market.com for info on how to develop your own app.



7/ The handset choice

There’s an ever expanding selection of handsets available from the likes of HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung, with new ones from Sony Ericsson and Nokia arriving this year.



8/ Hotmail compatibility

Unlike iPhone, Android syncs with your MSN Hotmail account for free.



9/ Other Android gadgets

The Android OS isn’t just for mobiles; the Archos 5 tablet and Barnes & Noble Nook also use it.



10/ Instant upgrades

There’s no need to sync with your computer for firmware upgrades, they download to the handset.