The Perfect Android Phone

Different people choose Android to be the OS that powers their smartphone for different reasons. My reason is Android provides the best Java implementation in the mobile domain. Forget about Java ME. Android's Java is a real thing that in many respects is on par or better than its desktop counterpart.

Your reason is probably different but you decided to be on the lookout... And found this post talking about my vision of a perfect Android phone.

1. Affordability

Mobile landscape evolves quickly. A smartphone has to be affordable. Affordable to me means less than $200. Enough said.

2. Google Voice and Data-only Plan

I don't mind if the phone's price tag is attached to a contract with a major carrier. The plot is to port my number to Google Voice and run away with a reasonably priced data-only plan.

3. Upgradability

The dictionaries don't know such a term but it's as simple as being able to upgrade your phone to the most recent version of Android. For better or worse Google produces new Android versions at mind-boggling pace and you want to stay on top on that. There are hardware limits to how far you can go with it but you should be able to have a reasonably recent version.

4. A MID (Mobile Internet Device) Will Do

Does it really have to be a phone? Not necessarily. An Android-based tablet a la yet-to-be-announced Dell Streak will do just fine. Tablets typically offer a slightly larger screen (5 inches is a good way of thinking about it) but are still highly pocketable. Due to the larger screen size the on-screen keyboard becomes quite usable and the lack of physical keyboard is less of an issue.

Currently this fine strategy faces a number of obstacles.

1. You can't really port your number to Google Voice (yet).

2. Reasonably priced Android phones are outdated on arrival. I'm going to speculate that Google treats its partners as bad as it treats developers by not providing either with timely information and by frequently changing its plans, conventions, and intents without prior notice.

The moral of the story is that if you are shooting for an Android phone, either as a user or a developer, you'd better look for a future Google-branded device. The odds are you are better off with a MID rather than a phone. If Google happens to plan to offer one that is.

Android will take over the world in about 6 months. I've been saying that for the past year and half.