0.4 % Of Android Users Use 2.3 Gingerbread

Google's Android  2.3 Gingerbread the latest version is it being run by 0.4 % devices while Android 2.2 Froyo is considered the most used version on the software, research has shown.

Based on data released on Google's Android Developer blog, the newest version with the platform is only installed on a few minutes percentage of all devices, while 2.2 Froyo was installed on 51.8 % devices.

The real reason for the lower use of Android Gingerbread is usually that the Operating system is only entirely on the Samsung Nexus S device, which is just available from select stores. The main USP of the new version from the OS is that it has support for Near Fields Communication technology.

The issue of fragmentation is constantly on the plague the platform with 35.2 % of users continuing to run on Android 2.1 Eclair, although higher versions can be found. Android versions 1.6 and 1.5 were available on 7.9 % and 4.7 % devices respectively.

One of the many reasons behind the fragmentation concern is that despite Google being prompt to release updates to the os, wireless carriers, who're ultimately accountable for delivering the update to users, have a considerable time to release them.

HTC and Verizon tops in speedy Android os upgrades

Since the Google android OS continues to updates through the team at Google, many manufacturers and carriers are already less than timely for their efforts to push the newest versions to numerous handsets. In the comparison of handset manufacturers and carriers, compiled by Computerworld, HTC and Verizon take top honors from the recent change to Android 2.2 Froyo.

HTC reportedly pushed Froyo updates to 1 / 2 of its eligible handsets in 2010, while Motorola only were able to upgrade 15.4 % of their devices. Samsung fell in third place with 11.1 % of eligible devices, as Dell, LG and Sony didn't push Froyo to some of their Android handsets.

When comparing the average await Froyo updates to start, Motorola and HTC showed comparable timing with 54.5 and 56 days, respectively. Samsung took over five months between Froyo's release plus the update delivered to phones.

Approaching the results from the carrier perspective, Verizon took the highest spot by updating another of their eligible devices to Froyo before the end of 2010. Sprint wasn't far behind, with 28.6 % of devices, while T-Mobile were able to update one in eight potential handsets. AT&T, however, didn't push Froyo updates to any handsets last year.

Verizon also was the quickest to update handsets, leaving customers to attend typically 58 days, while Sprint and T-Mobile pushed past 3 months.

That remains unclear when the trends continues into 2011, as numerous handsets now await the Android 2.3 Gingerbread release. The comparison offers a look at the 'fragmentation' that's been the topic of criticism over Google's mobile Operating system, because the marketplace is now filled with devices running many different versions and customized variants on the stock OS.

Android 2.2 FroYo FroYo now on most Android phones

Android 2.2 FroYo is currently sitting pretty on most phones by Google's mobile OS. That is according to stats directly from Mountain View, that  also show that while Android 2.x has taken hold, a disturbing number of phones are still stranded on last year's editions of the operating system.

The full breakdown as 2.2 FroYo on 43.4 per cent, 2.1 Eclair on 39.6 per cent, as Android 1.6 and 1.5 users still account for 16.9 per cent of the phones available. Still, with 83 per cent on the Android 2.x, at least most punters are receiving to grips with the very most recent features.

 
These numbers are probable to change, however, with the arrival of Gingerbread 2.3 in the next few weeks. Other than with FroYo acquiring taken so long to rollout on devices packing customized skins, expect the changes to get gradual.