Google updates Android fragmentation numbers

Posted by iphandroid in Android Updates on 01 24th, 2010 | No Comments

Last month Google began sharing the percent of devices that were running different versions of Android. This was done so that developers could understand the landscape of device distribution and decide how to spend their time.

Google promised to regularly update the data to reflect deployment of new devices and new numbers were just posted.

Data collected during two weeks ending on 1/4/2010. Click to enlarge.

I made a quick chart to compare how the distribution of devices has changed since last month. I combined the numbers for Android 2.0 and Android 2.0.1 since they both refer to the Motorola Droid.

Note: my chart says December data was collected on 12/17, but it was actually 12/9.

Comparing platform version movement.

As we can see, devices with Android 1.5 and Android 2.x have grown, while Android 1.6 has declined. It is a little puzzling to see Android 1.6 shrink, since none of those devices have been updated to Android 2.x. The decline was either caused by increased sales of Android 1.5 and 2.0 phones or T-Mobile customers switching to Verizon to pick up the Droid.

The latest numbers do not include the Nexus One since it was launched after the reporting period ended. We should see what percentage of devices it makes up in next month’s report.

Some interesting stats from the latest Platform Version breakdown:

78.9% of devices are running an outdated version of Android (1.5, 1.6), but most are expected to be updated by Q2 2010.
31% of devices do not have access to new Google applications like Maps Navigation, new Android Market, Goggles, etc. (All require Android 1.6 or greater).
21.1% of devices have support for multitouch built into the operating system (Android 2.x).
92.7% of devices are better than all Windows Mobile phones.

If you have your own interesting conclusions about the numbers, please share your thoughts in the comments.