14 DAY TRIAL // Google's Android operating system is attracting more and more users on its side, and it seems that developers are also lured towards the Internet giant's mobile platform. The number of software solutions available for download via the Android Market has reached 38,000 applications, adding no less than 8,000 items during the last month alone, Google says.
The application storefront for mobile phones powered by the Android OS had only 10,000 items available for download back in September 2009, showing an explosive growth during the past six months or so. While Google states that 38,000 applications are now included in the Android Market, one should note that ringtones, skins, wallpapers and widgets are also taken into consideration in the final figure.
Jeff Huber, Google's senior VP of engineering, is the one who announced these semi-official numbers during the Internet giant's Q1 earnings call. He talked about Nexus One by HTC as well and, even if no exact figure was unveiled, he did say that Google considered the selling of this device (the first one marketed directly by Google via its web store) to be a profitable business.
“It is a profitable business for us. ... We are driving the business to be a profitable business from the get-go,” Jeff Huber commented. “We're not disclosing the specific number ... We are very happy with the device uptake and the kind of impact that it's had across the industry,” he said. In the end, Nexus One might have enjoyed sales stronger than those previously estimated.
The Android ecosystem is expanding fast and, with a number of around 60,000 Android handsets being sold every day, it should grow even more. A wide range of mobile phone makers are set to launch new devices running under the OS and it seems that more and more developers are embracing the platform, with end-users being those to benefit the most from this.