Last Updated on 16th June 2011.
What is Android ?
Android is a mobile operating system initially developed by Android Inc., a firm purchased by Google in 2005. It is based upon a modified version of the Linux kernel.
Android has a large community of developers writing application programs ("apps") that extend the functionality of the devices. There are currently over 100,000 apps available for Android with some estimates saying 150,000 have been submitted, which makes it the second most popular mobile development environment.
Why Android ?
In today’s mobile market there are so many options that at times it can be overwhelming. It is in this market that Google took it’s Android operating system form a mere rumour to an OS that is defying all competition in just around two years! (Yeah! In just 2 years!)
Second, the Android Market rocks! With more than 100,000 amusing apps extending your mobile's functionality, Android Market provides an easy access and quick installation of apps on one touch. Compared to iOS, most of the apps are free.
The third thing is the rate of advancement of the OS. Being open-Source, this OS is transforming at an extremely fast rate. Android Complies with the Open Handset Alliance and is developed under Linux, hence proving itself to be the best choice for Open-source lovers.
Android Phones in India
Source: Flipkart
(as in June 2011)
Note: The price quoted here may not be exact. Prices vary according to dealer, city and time. Please check out your local dealer for prices.
HTC
- HTC Wildfire - Rs.11,499
- HTC Tattoo A3232 – Rs.12,797
- HTC Wildfire S – Rs. 13,899
- HTC Desire S – Rs.22,916
- HTC Desire Z – Rs.24,615
- HTC Desire HD– Rs.27,500
- Motorola Charm – Rs. 8,999
- Motorola Defy - Rs. 17,189
- Motorola Backflip – Rs.17,633
- Motorola XT800 - Rs. 18,899
- Motorola Milestone – Rs. 19,786
- Motorola Milestone XT720 – Rs. 23,020
Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy Pop S5570 – Rs.8,650
- Samsung Galaxy 551 - Rs.9,399
- Samsung Galaxy Pro - Rs.9,990
- Samsung Galaxy Fit - Rs.10,500
- Samsung Galaxy Ace - Rs.15,200
- Samsung Galaxy SL i9003 - Rs.19,900
- Samsung I9000 Galaxy S - Rs.22,900
Sony Ericsson
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini - Rs.9,499
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA X8 - Rs.11,200
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 mini pro – Rs.12,699
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 - Rs.21,987
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA Neo - Rs.24,999
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc - Rs.27,499
LG
- LG Optimus Me P350 – Rs.8,017
- LG Optimus One P500 – Rs.10,900
- LG Optimus 2X P990 – Rs.26,990
Spice
- Spice Mi-310 – Rs.7,399
- Spice Mi-270 – Rs.5,649
Videocon
- Zeus 7500 – Rs.10,999
Micromax
- Andro A60 – Rs.5,713
- Bling 2 – Rs.8,999
Decide your Budget: According to me, a 15k-20k budget would be perfect. But if you want to go for high end phones, you need a budget of over 25k.
Check out the Android version: Before choosing a handset, checkout the Android version it is providing and compare it to Google's latest release. Prefer the phone having 2.3 or above.
Look into the future: Google updates their Android software at a breakneck pace. This is awesome if your phone is ready for the upgrades, and demoralising if it isn't—and a lot of current handsets are getting left behind.
Decide if you want a physical keypad or not: Physical qwerty keypads with trackball do change the way you surf and will prove to be very useful if you want to chat and mail. But I can assure you that the Android keyboard would be perfect for using, once you get used to it. Moreover, if you have Swype in your phone, you'll never feel the need for a physical keypad! It seriously rocks! Believe me!
Find the user interface that best suites you: There are a few customised versions of Android from different manufacturers that are available; HTC sense, Moto blur, Touch wiz (Samsung) and basic vanilla Android (no manufacturer changes) are the prominent ones. Choose the one which reports the least number of bugs & appeals the most to you!
Do a little hard-work : Look at your Android options and find out which has the best specifications for you. The more internal storage, the better it is. You can download more applications which extend your phone's functionality. However, Android 2.2+ allows you to store apps on external storage. More RAM = More use of your phone. Also, look at the processor speed. The faster the processor, the smoother your phone runs. Don't forget to have a look at ROM size, it is an important factor considering the rapid upgrades from Google.
Search for reviews of the phones that interests you: Many phones have great specs on paper, but they may disappoint you later on...! Therefore, it's important to do a little bit of research! Get to know some expert's view on the phone!
Finally, try to get some hands on experience: Walk into a mobile store, and ask the dealer to show you the phones that you have chose. Try it out! The main reason behind is that you should not regret your decision after you have bought the phone.
If u have any query/suggestion regarding this article or if you want me to help you in buying an Android phone or to report any error,contact me at: kd24x7@live.com
Thank You... :)
