Android users split down the middle between old and new

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Google's latest usage figures have revealed that nearly half of all Android users aren't running the latest version of the mobile OS – Android 2.1.

The issue of fragmentation has become an increasingly sore point for developers, handset makers and end users alike, with Google's aggressive development schedule having seen six major versions of Android released since its debut in October 2008.

According to Google, the vast majority of users who accessed the Android Market over the past two weeks were split between three versions of the OS – Android 1.5, 1.6 or 2.1.

And while Google will no doubt be pleased that Android 2.1 users make up the biggest single group (50.4 per cent), that conversely means that nearly the same number are stranded on older, outdated versions of the OS.

Android's rapid advancement has been a particular problem for hardware manufacturers, with several handsets having hit the market with an operating system already out of date because Google had rolled out a new version while the product was still being finalised.

And while manufacturers have generally been quick to offer upgrades to the latest versions as they become available – virtually all Android 2.0 users are now on version 2.1, for example – the issue is more complicated when upgrading from Android 1.6 or earlier.

Android 2.0 arrived just months after version 1.6 appeared on the market, yet was a major step up in both power and capabilities. The result was a large number of users stranded on version 1.5 and 1.6 while handset makers tried to figure out a way to make the newer OS work on older hardware.

In many cases they're still trying – users of the HTC Hero, for example, are only now getting the chance to upgrade from Android 1.6.

The even split between old and new versions of the platform means developers have no choice but to create different versions of their apps to suit both camps, or else risk shutting out half of their potential market.

Earlier this month, Google's vice president Andy Rubin confirmed the company would be slowing down its Android release cycle to aim for just a single update every year, saying Google realised that “a platform that's moving is hard for developers to keep up with”.

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