For Android customers the process of getting an OS update can be tedious, confusing, frustrating, long winded and drawn out and its about to happen all over again. Earlier this week, Google announced the release of the SDK for Gingerbread, the 2.3 release of its Android operating system and stated that it will be rolled out in the near future.

Every time Google has announced a forth coming update to Android handset owners drool over the improvements they will receive. Anything from bug fixes, speed improvements to some serious additional functionality can be included in a release and so customers get whipped up into a frenzy eagerly anticipating how soon it will be delivered to their handset. The problem is, there isnt an easy answer to this question. Well it seems there isnt but I must be missing something as its quite simple really

The problems:

There are now many different handsets from numerous manufacturers that run Android. All these handsets are not considered equal when it comes to an update.
Some are much older and may not have the required spec to run the latest release.
Others are classed as “Comes with Google” handsets which means they have a pure untouched, straight from Google version of the OS with no additional UI or skin over the top.
The remainder and bulk of the handsets carry additional ‘skins’ such as HTC’s Sense UI or Motorola’s Blur interface for example.

What this means for the customer:

The process is not ‘One process fits all’, if and when they are to receive the update varies dramatically. The content of the update may also be very different. Some MNO’s use the opportunity to bundle in some of their own applications in to the updated e.g. Vodafone’s 360 applications those with handsets for some manufacturers will get an update to their UI.
Communication is very poor from all companies involved leaving the customer confused, frustrated and very vocal on their discontent.

What this means for the Mobile Operator

Mobile Network Operators seem to be the first people that customers turn to as it is MNO’s that have sold them a handset and a costly monthly contract. This causes big problems as the MNO’s are pretty much stuck in the middle getting all the grief from customers and very little help from manufacturers and Google in terms of hard and fast deadlines when updates will be pushed out.

MNO’s dont help themselves though, as their communication leaves alot to be desired. Funny how companies that have made their fortune from communication cant even agree a statement internally and stick to it. Instead many confusing messages are passed out to customers across numerous platforms leading to an uproar on forums all over the web.

The solution:

Agree a strategy internally of how the update will be rolled out.
Speak with handset manufacturers and Google and agree which handsets will receive the updates and when in terms of month or at least quarter.

Communicate to all Android handset owners whether they will or will not receive the update.
If they will receive the update give them an indication of timelines.
Included in the communication and published on numerous channels should be the process in terms or roles and responsibilities of all the parties involved from Google, the manufacturers and even the customers. Write it in plain English and point everyone at this message.

Sounds simple doesnt it? Bet it doesnt happen.

My Understanding of how it works today

Google releases the SDK, at which point handset manufacturers and mobile operators all take the code to review, test and build on in the case of those that produce UI’s.

Any unlocked devices that ‘Come with Google’ i.e. a clean version of Android, get the update before anyone else.

Comes with Google devices that are locked i.e. those sold with a contract from a mobile network operator (MNO) will get their update once the MNO in question has tested the update and approved it.

Those with an unlocked handset with a skin / additional UI developed by the handset manufacturer will have to wait longer whilst the UI is updated. The manufacturers tend to start with the most recently released handsets and work backwards, e.g.customers with an HTC Magic are still waiting for Android 2.2.

Then there are those people who have an older unlocked handset may not even get the update at all.

Those with handsets locked to a mobile operator have to wait and watch on with green eyes as those with unlocked devices get their updates. The mobile operators have to approve any software roll out so even if they have a ‘Comes with Google’ handset, there will still be a delay over unlocked devices. Those with handsets with additional UI’s will have to wait further still as the MNO will have to approve the additions and as already mentioned, add in and or update their own applications before allowing the rollout.

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 A colleague and I have been set the challenge of writing a contract for an IT development factory which will adopt the Scrum Agile methodology. Agile has many benefits in terms of delivery of an end product, that meets the customers quality and functionality requirements but it is far from straight forward to contract for.

In the proposed factory model, there will be 4 week sprints with a release into live each month. There is enough demand that we need 4 to 6 scrums all working in parallel delivering in to the same release. Waterfall projects have a defined scope and often duration which make it pretty straight forward to contract for. Agile, especially in the proposed factory model approach this is not the case.

The decision of what to contract against becomes even more complicated when adopting Agile compared to waterfall. No longer can the Contract Manager be confident he knows what he has purchased, that he has incentivised the supplier to over perform and he has implemented mechanisms to penalise the supplier for poor performance or low productivity. Contracting for FTE’s, developer days or ideal developer days are easy to do but offer little assistance in guaranteeing output delivered.

One could look at using story points to contract against to ensure a certain level of output but would you get a school boy to set and then mark his own homework? No? Neither would I but that is pretty much how Story Points are used in Agile. This means trust becomes more important than ever which is difficult enough for those on the ground involved in the day to day working with the supplier. For those in Supply Chain or Contract Management roles tasked with protecting their employer, this is not a path they would be happy to tread. It also requires a long transition period to baseline the right level of velocity to contract against increasing the level of risk for 3 to 6 months. 

So in short, there are no obvious answers to the challenges I face and for once, even Google doesnt have the answer. Do you?

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In a clever move, Vodafone will be opening up its own Android App store through a tie up with Arvato Mobile. Little is known at the moment but its likely to open its doors in early June 2010 and come preinstalled on devices from then on. Vodafone have had a big push on Google OS driven handsets in what has been tagged Android April will the HTC Desire, HTC Legend and the Sony Ericsson X10 all launched this month with the Nexus One also heading to Europe on the Big Red network.

Whilst the network continues to push its 360 services, jumping on the Android App bandwagon alongside is a good move but Im sure Google arent overly happy with revenue it gains from the 30% of apps sold heading to someone else as Apps get produced on Vodafones shop and not the Android Market.

There will no doubt be questions from developers on whether one app can be sold in both shops and much of that will be decided by T&C’s and the techical set up of Vodafones Store.  We will have to wait and see.

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This week saw Hitwise publish stats that made very grim reading for Bebo and MySpace, but very good news for Facebook (surprise) and Club Penguin (real surprise). Faccebook dominates the traffic figures whilst Club Penguin is steadily climbing the league table moving from 10th to 8th. Club Penguin is probably feeling pretty positive about its future as the number of young children with computers and internet access is growing dramatically and so the future of sites that provide a safe social experience will no doubt grow in popularity also. But here’s the catch. As children out grow Club Penguin and similar services, they may still be too young for the full on facebook experience. Those that want to move on up others will wonder how they can make the step from one to the other.

 At the moment the founders of Facebook may feel invincible as it watches its closest competitors, sites like Bebo and MySpace, slip so far behind Facebook that its no longer in sight. But things change, new competitors enter the market and they shouldnt get complacent, they should be looking at emerging markets or in this case aging users of child focused social networks.

 If the transition from sites like Club Penguin was already mapped out through wizardry like technological magic and close commercial ties then Facebook would guarantee the future of its user base. If users could, through a few clicks, transfer profile and friend information from one service to another, users could be hooked for life.

 On a similar theme but looking at the other end of the scale, if Facebook is for the young, hip and trendy amongst us, then Facebook may also want to consider the future of its current user base . We all age and will at some point out grow the concept of throwing sheep or stalking ex’es. A more ‘grown up’ new separate version of Facebook aimed at the oldies could be the answer but would need to be cleverly positioned and if implemented correctly could again ensure Facebooks longevity.

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Vodafone have confirmed that they will be selling the HTC Legend on an exclusive basis and the HTC Desire on a non exclusive basis from next month.

The HTC Legend has been heralded as one of the best handsets to hit the market given its Sense interface, solid build and good but not outstanding spec list that ensures a decent not exorbitant price. The handset is bound to fly off the shelves but there is one thing that could dampen the excitement, the fact that Vodafone are selling the Legend handset with 360 Services Preloaded.

360 hasnt gone down as well as expected although it still remains a key part of Vodafones Strategic plans hence its inclusion on the HTC Legend.

Android handsets are all about choice and flexibility. Users are able to make the phone look and feel the way they want with apps they choose and personalise the home screens with widgets, something the Iphone cant do. If Vodafone force users to use their 360 people client and interface instead of the award winning Sense UI and other apps that users download they could be shooting themselves in both feet with a shotgun.

However, Vodafone merely ensures that the apps, which should appear in the Android Market, are installed on the handset and can be removed or just sit there redundant then everyone is a winner. Im just hoping this is the case.

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Why arent there many Android handsets with QWERTY keyboards? Looking at the Android handsets that have been released recently or those that are currently available in the UK, it has become clear that the world favours touch screens instead of the more tactile qerty keyboards. There is only one cutting edge Android handset that has a slide out keyboard, the Motorola Milestone as its know in the UK. However, this handset has been surpassed in terms of hardware spec and software version. The Milestone was never properly taken on by any of the UK operators which left a void, the only other handsets that come with a slide out qwety keyboard are middle tier devices such as the Motorola Dext.

Blackberrys continue to extend into the consumer market given their ability to work well with email and Facebook and the fact that its easy to tap out a long message or status update using the QWERTY keyboards many of them have. Blackberrys only touch screen device, the Storm struggled to offer the same functionality and ease of typing that the company’s otehr devices offered.

So it looks even stranger that no manufacturer has produced a leading edge,  large touch screen Android device that has a QWERTY keyboard that is able to compete with and match the specs of the Sony Ericsson X10,  HTC Desire or Nexus One.

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Its funny how a few short months can completely change ones view of a mobile handset. Cast your mind back to late last year when the Motorola Droid or Milestone as it is known in the UK was being heralded as the best thing since sliced bread (read the iphone). Featuring a previously unseen version of Android, 2.0, packed full with new features the handset was flying off the shelf in the US. Huge sales figures were predicted across Europe and everything looked rosey for Motorola.

Spin forward to today and the picture changes dramatically. Motorola failed to get any takers to range the phone in the UK and have only been able to sell the phone sim free through Expansys, who are hardly a household name when it comes to online retailing. The rumours are that Motorola havent got many friends amoungst the UK’s mobile networks as they are seen as difficult to work with and not worth the hassle.

The Nexus One has been announced and is available in the US both sim free and on 2 networks. The phone can also be purcahsed sim free for £70 less than the Milestone. Vodafone and possibly other networks will be carrying the phone in a few weeks time. The Nexus one has a faster chip and a newer operating system then the Droid which seems to have been dropped like its hot by Google who dont forget advertised the phone on their homepage.

A “Droid Does” read Droid Did campaign launched the phone but now it seems the phone is a bit of a has been. Google has confirmed there will be more handsets sold through its online store, one rumoured to feature a pull out qwerty keyboard which would be the final nail in the Droid coffin.

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From the 14th January Vodafone will be selling the Iphone which is a massive step in the right direction but now there is more good news.

https://www.google.com/phone/choose?locale=en_US&s7e=

Vodafone will be selling the Nexus one in Europe. At present we dont know if this is an exclusive deal but even if its not its the only European carrier that is mentioned.

Well done Vodafone!!!

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Google isnt in the habit of being predictable, so if everyone is thinking that Googles major announcement tomorrow will be the Nexus One then think on.

The internet is awash with information on the Nexus One which although a nice handset, it doesnt look like it will knock the Iphone off its perch.

So, I expect something more than just the unveiling of the Nexus One

Possible announcements

Spotify & Google join forces
A new product we havent seen before
A new application we havent heard before
Chrome OS

Think of it this way, if Google wanted the Nexus One to be a surprise it could hide any leaks about the phone very easily by hindering the ability to find information on it through its search. I doubt they would, but they could.

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