Will Android ever make it as a business platform?

Android could well go the same way, considering Google is placing the platform in the high-end consumer market category.

Although Android is most certainly a smartphone platform, it isn't strictly business because, like the iPhone, it focuses on multimedia, good looks and social networking, rather than on business services. Even the hardware is more suited to those who send texts and Tweets rather than lengthy emails, being a touch screen-based platform.

Hardware

Although massively angled towards touch screen users, there are also options for those who require a hardware keyboard too.

The first Android device to include a full hardware QWERTY keyboard was the T-Mobile G1, swiftly followed by the Motorola DEXT and Milestone.

A second QWERTY keyboard-toting Android device has just passed through the Federal Communications Commission too, dubbed the HTC Wildfire, although it's not yet clear whether it will be heading to the UK yet.

Another major advantage Android has over its competitors is that all Android manufacturers have welcomed the 1GHz mobile processor more so than Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and iPhone.

In the Windows Mobile environment, the Toshiba TG01 was the first to include a 1GHz processor and although it was impressive when the device was first announced, it never really caught on.

Android devices with Qualcomm's processor include the Google Nexus One, HTC Legend and HTC Desire. This makes them super speedy and suited to running multiple, power-consuming applications.

ARM has also released a 1GHz processor, and the first device to feature ARM's Cortex A8 processor will be the Samsung Galaxy S, coming later this year.