Google has designed its Android platform as a means of promoting the fragmentation of mobile operating systems, an expert has said.Speaking to the Register, Sanjay Jha, chief operating officer of the chipset division at wireless technology and solution firm Qualcomm, stated that Google wants to ensure that there is no equivalent of Microsoft Office in the mobile phone market.
Launched by the search engine provider in November last year, Android is an open handset alliance described by the firm as "the first complete, open and free mobile platform".
Commenting on the initiative, Mr Jha said: "Google wants fragmentation in the industry [and] is putting a lot of resources behind Linux."
According to the expert, if mobile devices converge on one or two platforms, then developers will decide that it is worth adapting applications only to these platforms.
However, with fragmented environments, Web 2.0 technologies become the "only effective way" in which to create applications for mobile devices.
Qualcomm, which has signed up to become a member of the Open Handset Alliance, demonstrated its Android-based device recently at the CTIA Wireless event in Las Vegas.
According to the Register, the company has Samsung, Motorola and HTC lined up to launch Android handsets later this year.
However, it is said to have an "operating system-agnostic approach" and is "happy to discuss" Limo and other systems in the market.
