Google has updated the Platform Versions statistics chart on its Android Developers portal and its analysis shows that Android 2.1 (Eclair), Android 2.2 (Froyo) and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) now run on 89.8% of the total Android handsets currently available in the market.
The figure, up 7% from the previous report, demonstrates Google’s efforts to reduce fragmentation of its operating system, often plagued by mobile operators that would delay updates as they sought to include branding, additional software and bug fixes.
From the data collected two weeks previous to February 2 2011, Android 2.2 was operational on 57.6% of Android devices, with Android 2.1 accounting for 31.4%. Android 1.6 can be found on 6.3% of devices and Android 1.5 run on 3.9%, thanks largely to users not knowing they can update their devices or their phones have become obsolete and are no longer supported.
Gingerbread is still only on a small percentage of devices as manufacturers look to put the finishing touches to new smartphones that will be unveiled at this years Mobile World Congress. Today’s figures show a dramatic shift in how many devices now run Android 2.2, rising 14.2% in just over two months, signalling the fact manufacturers are slowly updating their customers to a newer version of the operating system.
We imagine Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) will gain in popularity in the coming months, only the Nexus S officially supports the software at this time but a wave of new devices will begin to hit the market after their MWC unveilings.
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