Android platform celebrates its first birthday

It's been such a busy year in the smartphone arena, it's hard to believe the Android operating system is one year old today. Launched by Google as a free, open-source platform, Android was a huge step forward in the proliferation of smartphones, thanks to its accessibility and flexibility.

Google has been talking recently about the impending 'Android explosion', as it partners with Verizon in a huge US TV ad campaign to get this smartphone out to new consumers, while new uses are also appearing on the market, such as gaming devices and ebook readers.

Mobile ad provider AdMob has released a few statistics to show just how far Android has come in its first year, indicating that the Google platform now enjoys a seven per cent market share globally, while ten per cent of UK smartphones are now powered by the Android OS.

It also discovered that on average, Android users download 9.1 new applications for their device each month, compared to its closest rival, iPhone, seeing 10.2 apps per month.

Although the internet giant behind Android doesn't appear to be coordinating new releases in time with the platform's anniversary, it appears that Android 2.0 (also lovingly referred to as Eclair) is on the horizon, and promises to take the operating system to further success.