Google Android 2.2 adds blistering speed

Growth of Google's Android platform has been brisk, and with the launch of Google Android 2.2 the search company has further advanced the ball.

Android 2.2 is code-named Froyo, and it adds tethering, faster speeds, Wi-Fi hot-spot support numerous other improvements to Android, to keep the momentum Andoid has built up going.

According to the latest report from Gartner this week the sales of Android-based phones increased by 707 per cent in the first quarter of 2010 as against the first quarter of 2009.

Android phones were also said to have overtaken sales of phones runningApple 's iPhone OS in the first quarter, according to data from the NPD Group. Android phones were placed at the top of the smartphones of 2009 class, and also appear on several more released or slated-to-be-released smartphones this year, including the HTC Droid Incredible and HTC EVO 4G.

According to Google, the Android 2.2 mobile OD update is to arrive later this year and among the highlights of the of the system as per Google's announcement at this week's Google I/O Conference in San Francisco are: 

1.  Faster Speeds: Google claims Android 2.2 is about five times faster than earlier versions, thanks largely to Dalvik JIT compiler to boost CPU performance, and a JavaScript engine.
2. Tethering, hot-spot support: As per rumours in the weeks leading up to Google I/O, Android 2.2 features built-in support for tethering and the ability to use Android phones as Wi-Fi hot spots. Though there is no clarity as to whether carriers of Android phones will charge users for the services, however these are there for Android.
3. Flash support: Android 2.2 is the first version of Google Android that fully supports Adobe Flash as well as Adobe Air. Adobe is a key relationship for Google, and at Google's I/O Conference Google vice president of engineering Vic Gundotra used the opportunity to take a swipe at Apple and its very public war of words with Adobe.

"It turns out that on the internet, people use Flash," he said. "And part of being open means you're inclusive, rather than exclusive, and that you're open to innovation."