With the Droid convincingly positioning itself as a legitimate iPhone competitor and with over a dozen or so new handsets running the same Google-flavored OS, it's time to ask that question. Should you switch over to Android?
If you've been meaning to upgrade to a consumer smartphone from a feature handset, I would have to answer in the affirmative. The Android brings so much usability and extensibility to your devices that it's tough to choose any other OS, especially at lower price points (e.g. the Droid Eris at $99).
Business Users
There's one group of users that you can't peel off Windows Mobile: the business set whose enterprise systems are closely tied to all things Microsoft. Despite the support for Exchange and other popular office solutions now present in most any smartphone flavor, nothing beats the ease with which it can be implemented on Windows Mobile. In fact, many IT departments will refuse full access to those using other mobile OSes, Android included.
Weaknesses
Barring the above issues, Android handsets should be able to do pretty much everything other smartphones can, save for a couple of features. Multi-touch, for instance, is still inconsistent on newer phones and virtually non-existent on older ones. The level of business integration also varies from handset to handset, with the Droid and the Cliq offering the best and most complete set of options. Multimedia also remains a weak point, lagging by a wide margin over what the iPhone brings to the fore.
Strengths
Backed by Google, the integration of the company's apps into the handsets are just downright flawless. If you're an avid fan of the ever-growing and continually-improving Google suite of services, there's nowhere else to go but Android.
Multitasking capabilities are also topnotch on the OS, with terrific notification systems to top it all off. The newer builds also raised the bar on internet browsing. While most folks will still rightly side with the iPhone on this end, it's not that hard to see how well Android is slowly bridging that gap.
Apple eats the Android in sheer amount of apps. With a growing userbase, an open platform and an improving lineup of handsets, though, it's not unthinkable that the Android Marketplace will eventually catch up - something that can't be said of any other smartphone OS' app inventory today.
Choices
Need to get a fix of current Android phone choices? Check out our list of Android handset reviews and find the right device for you.
