Android mobile phone updating woes

It looks like a couple of Android updating issues have cropped up recently. One of them is regarding users of the T-Mobile G1 mobile phone. I4U has posted an article saying that T-Mobile G1 users may not be able to get updates beyond the current Android version 1.5 due to phone memory limitations according to an Android developer.The other problem regarding updates boils down to licensing issues which is downright stupid considering that Android is suppose to be an open source / open mobile platform. The issue affects users of the new HTC Magic which will have the upcoming Sense UI. It looks like the new Sense UI will be available for Android users in Europe but not for T-Mobile users in the US whose mobile phone has a “Google Branding”.

I think the issue of multiple Android OS versions should be handled at this early stage. One possible solution is to create a “standard” Android OS which is required to work on any mobile phone that will be sold on the market.

Any mobile phone operator or manufacturer who wants to add “enhancements” should provide it as an “installable software” on top of the standard Android OS. If a consumer buys an Android based mobile phone, he/she should have the option to un-install the operator’s or manufacturer’s enhancement and get the standard Android OS working on the mobile phone which the user can then customize as he/she wants.

A mobile phone operator / manufacturer can always request for the inclusion of their enhancements into the Android core if a lot of consumers will benefit from the very useful enhancement that has been widely adopted.

With this arrangement, any user will be able to truly maximize the benefits of having an open mobile platform like the Android.