Google’s Android ushers in new wave of user customisation

Google’s Android operating system for mobile phones could encourage more user customisation and third party development, an expert suggests.

According to Thomas Newton, a mobile phone expert from UK Web Media, the Android platform is the first mobile that is fully open source, which means that its codes are available to anyone.

“Whilst on the surface this doesn’t appear very interesting to anyone without a basic grasp in programming, what this means is that you can change and modify the Android code,” Mr Newton explained.

He added: “The G1 [therefore] has the potential to usher in a new wave of user customisation that has not been seen before on mobiles.”

Research commissioned by mobile device management specialist Mformation Technologies Inc found that 80 per cent of subscribers would use mobile services more if they could personalise their phones, while 94 per cent of consumers are already trying to personalise their phones with specific ringtones or accessories.