Android De-Fragmentation

With Android being released as an open source operating system, one of the risks is that the companies in the Open Handset Alliance could fragment the development of the OS. It turns out that Google has worked to prevent this.

It seems fairly obvious, but balkanization of Android would likely cause significant issues with its adoption. The real issue is: who does balkanization affect?

Answer: the users.

Up until now, the cell phone manufacturers and the service providers have been united in denying user choice. I have high hopes (some days I'm an optimist!) that Android can be the straw that breaks the camel's back in this hegemony.

If android actually lives up to my current expectations, we're due for a serious inflection point-- and another Internet revolution.

Vive la choice!