Google’s two most recent iterations of Android are being used on more than 70 percent of smartphones running the mobile operating system.
Android 2.1 is running on some 41.7 percent of Android-bearing devices, with the latest Android 2.2 powering apps on 28.7 percent of Android handsets. That’s according to the stats on Google’s Android developer Website through Sept. 1.
This Android platform dashboard breaks down the figures in a pie chart, showing the now ancient Android 1.5 running on 12 percent of devices. Android 1.6 is running on 17.5 percent of units.
The stats are recompiled every two weeks. Soon Android 2.2 will be the leading OS build because most of the devices that launched with Android 2.1, or even Android 2.0, have received or will receive the over-the-air upgrade to the latest build.
A trend is emerging: Each new wave of Android smartphone is sparking big shifts in the flavors of operating system used, and it won’t be long before Android 2.2 passes Android 2.1 on smartphones.
For example, the percentage of phones running Android 2.2 was only 3.3 percent in August, when Google’s Nexus One was the first device to get the upgrade. A month later, Android 2.2 powers almost 30 percent of Android smartphones.
Sprint’s HTC Evo 4G and Verizon Wireless’ HTC Droid Incredible are receiving the new OS. The Motorola Droid 2 launched with Android 2.2, though its Android 2.0 predecessor got the bump to 2.2 before the Droid 2 launched in August. Verizon’s Motorola Droid X will get the bump from 2.1 to 2.2 soon.
T-Mobile’s G2 will launch with Android 2.2 later this fall.
Android 2.1 is running all four of the Samsung Galaxy S smartphones: Verizon Wireless’ Samsung Fascinate, AT&T’s Samsung Captivate, Sprint’s Epic 4G and T-Mobile’s Samsung Vibrant.
These devices will all be upgraded to Android 2.2 this year. Expect to see a rise and fall of Android 2.2 similar to what will happen to Android 2.1 when smartphones powered by Android 3.0 appear early next year.