10 years after launch on smartphone, Android dominates global market

Digital Originals

10 years after launch on smartphone, Android dominates global market

Ten years ago, one phone changed the cellphone landscape. The HTC Dream helped Google’s dream come true.It was the first phone to be sole running Android, Google’s cell phone operating system.

CGTN’s Phil Lavelle looks back on how Android captured the market.

The aim was to rival the likes of Apple, Nokia, Microsoft and Blackberry.

Now, Android’s the most used mobile OS in the world, representing 80 percent of the global smartphone market.

Android is open source, which means any manufacturer can use it. Samsung uses it and so does Motorola, LG, Nokia and Blackberry.

Its apps are the big draw. There are millions of apps in the Play Store.

But to get access, manufacturers must abide by Google’s rules.

And Google is blocked in China. So even though Chinese manufacturers use Android, phones in China can’t use Google features.

But Chinese manufacturers who sell Android phones elsewhere can add Google’s services.

Another example of Google’s fragmented approach which has helped it achieve the top spot.