T-Mobile USA delays Android 1.5 update to June

T-Mobile USA has delayed the release of its Android 1.5 mobile operating system update for G1 smartphones until early next month. "We are working diligently to get Android 1.5 out as soon as possible, while aiming to ensure a consistent, positive experience for our customers," writes moderator Dominic on the T-Mobile Forums. "We're finalizing the build this week to ensure optimal functionality and smooth delivery. Therefore, the rollout schedule has been reset by approximately a week, and we expect all G1 customers will have the update by early June. Your device will notify you when the update is available."

Android 1.5 (a.k.a. "Cupcake") promises G1 users a host of new feature enhancements and upgrades. The revamped OS now runs on the Linux kernel 2.6.27, translating to stronger security, improved stability and a range of core application enhancements; the update also features SIM Application Toolkit 1.0 as well as SD cardfile system auto-checking and repair. Most notable of all, Android 1.5 offers programmers a wealth of additional APIs and manifest elements--too many to list here (check out the Android Developers site for a complete rundown), but highlights include the new AppWidget framework, a media framework featuring video and photo sharing intents, and miscellaneous enhancements like LocationManager, WebView and GLSurfaceView.

Earlier this month, research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics forecast that global Android smartphone shipments will grow 900 percent in 2009, thanks to healthy support from operators, vendors and developers--by comparison, Apple's iPhone OS, the second fastest growing smartphone operating system, will experience just a 79 percent growth rate in 2009. While Strategy Analytics admits Android is expanding from a low base (the G1 was only on sale for the last few months of 2008, and just recently passed the 1 million sales benchmark), the firm contends the platform's relatively low-cost licensing model and semi-open-source structure, as well as Google's support for cloud services, will galvanize industry interest.

For more on the Android 1.5 delay:
- check out this T-Mobile Forums post

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