Early Developers Giving Google’s Android Mobile Platform Mixed Reviews

Dow Jones reports (shorter Wall Street Journal version here) that some software developers are experiencing considerable frustration writing for Google’s much-touted Android mobile platform.

“Functionality is not there, is poorly documented or just doesn’t work. It’s clearly not ready for prime time,” said one of the developers quoted in the story, which acknowledges that early bugs and problems are not uncommon with new software platforms. But Google and its partners need to ensure that developers can work with Android.

To that end, Google has established a $10 million prize fund to encourage developers to write apps for the new platform. Having a rich library of applications is one of the keys to success for Android.

A first-person account of developing Android apps can be found on Ars Technica. And there’s related discussion at Techmeme.

About The Author

Greg Sterling

Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog, Screenwerk, about connecting the dots between digital media and real-world consumer behavior. He is also VP of Strategy and Insights for the Local Search Association. Follow him on Twitter or find him at Google+.