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Continued ...

While the implementation of Java has improved considerably over the past couple years, it has never fulfilled its write-once-run-everywhere promise owing to the compatibility breaks caused whenever an operator or manufacturer introduced an innovation they wanted - the bouncer as the Java party was clearly not doing his job. This implementation inconsistency is what is currently hurting the mobile Linux market.

Google understands the importance of consistency simply because if the PC market resembled today's handset industry, then Google would not be a $200 billion company and Larry and Sergey would probably still be finishing up their PhDs in their Stanford dorm room. We see Google preventing fragmentation of its Linux OS in two ways:

• - While the Android source code will be licensed under the Apache 2.0 license, allowing manufacturers to modify the source code without having to share their modifications, these companies must sign a compatibility pledge promising not to break interoperability. While it is unclear what action Google will take with vendors who do not comply, it should suffice to say that Google's pockets are deeper that even those of Nokia's and it could make things difficult for offenders.
• - Android will run Java applications, but Google will take the Java bytecode and convert it to its own virtual machine (VM) language: Dalvik. Dalvik is Google's proprietary virtual machine and has not released specifications for it. Many see this as Google's way of escaping Sun's Java royalties. No doubt, this is one motivation, but the true benefit is that now application developers only have a single VM which they need to test their code against.

Google has released the Android SDK and developers are likely to code natively for the platform. However, it is entirely possible that, if Dalvik proves to be a feature-rich and efficient VM, the large installed base of developers already well-versed in coding for Java will see Dalvik become Android's de facto application execution environment.

Google is not a handset OS company. Android is simply a means to an end - the end being to create a vast new expanse of real estate which Google can beam its advertising inventory to. This demands a level of consistency and interpretability from Android so that, regardless of who implements the platform on whichever device, application compatibility is maintained. This means some tactics from Google which makes Android more closed than other mobile Linux offerings. But as all party-goers know, a good bouncer on the nightclub door making some heavy-handed decisions can make the party a whole lot better for everyone.

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