Android: What is It?

What is Android?

Android is an open-source mobile operating system developed by Google, based on the Linux kernel. Launched in 2008, it is today the most widely used mobile operating system in the world, powering approximately 70% of smartphones and a wide range of tablets, smartwatches, televisions, and IoT devices. Its open-source nature allows numerous manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Google, OnePlus) to adapt it to their devices, which explains its market dominance.

For developers, Android offers an open and flexible ecosystem. Native development is primarily done in Kotlin (the language recommended by Google since 2019) or Java, using Android Studio, the official IDE. The Google Play Store is the main distribution channel, but Android also allows application installation from other sources (sideloading), a flexibility that iOS does not offer.

Why Android Matters

With its dominant market share, Android is a platform that any mobile strategy must account for. In Belgium and Europe, Android and iOS share the market relatively evenly, but globally, Android dominates overwhelmingly.

• Dominant market share: With approximately 70% of the global market, ignoring Android means cutting yourself off from the majority of smartphone users.
• Open ecosystem: Android's open-source nature offers flexibility that iOS does not: sideloading, deep OS customisation, access to system APIs.
• Device diversity: Android powers smartphones across all price segments, from 100 EUR entry-level to 1,000+ EUR premium devices, enabling reach across all market segments.
• Google Play Store: The Google Play validation process is faster and less restrictive than Apple's App Store, accelerating publication cycles.
• Google integration: Native integration with Google services (Maps, Firebase, Cloud Messaging, ML Kit) is a significant advantage for applications leveraging these services.
• Enterprise distribution: Android Enterprise provides fleet management tools (MDM) suited for professional deployments, with work profiles separated from personal data.

How It Works

Native Android development relies on Android Studio, Google's official IDE based on IntelliJ IDEA. The primary language is Kotlin, a modern language offering null safety, coroutines for asynchronous programming, and concise syntax. Java remains supported but is no longer recommended for new projects.

The modern architecture of an Android application follows Google's Architecture Components principles: ViewModel for state management, LiveData or StateFlow for reactive data streams, Room for local persistence, and Navigation Component for screen management. Jetpack Compose, Google's declarative toolkit launched in 2021, is progressively replacing the traditional XML layout system.

At Kern-IT, we advise our clients on the best strategy to reach Android users. For the majority of enterprise projects, we recommend React Native, which covers both Android and iOS with a shared codebase. When a project requires Android-specific integrations (advanced NFC, complex background services, hardware integration), we support native Kotlin development or add native modules to the React Native application.

Concrete Example

Consider a Belgian logistics company equipping its 200 delivery drivers with Android smartphones for route management. The application must work offline in areas with poor network coverage, scan barcodes via the camera, capture delivery signatures, and synchronise data with the backend once connectivity is restored.

The choice of Android is driven by device cost (durable smartphones at 200 EUR are sufficient for this use case), the ability to deploy the application via Android Enterprise without going through the public Play Store, and access to system APIs for background operation. The application is built with React Native to benefit from code sharing with the iOS version intended for managers, with native Kotlin modules for high-performance barcode scanning and offline synchronisation.

Implementation

1. Create a Google Play Developer account: The one-time registration fee (25 USD) grants access to publishing on the Google Play Store.
2. Set up the environment: Install Android Studio, configure the Android SDK, and set up emulators for target versions.
3. Choose the approach: Native Kotlin/Jetpack Compose development for applications requiring Android-specific integrations, React Native for cross-platform projects, or PWA for advanced web applications.
4. Manage fragmentation: Define minimum and target Android versions (API level), and test on a representative range of devices to address hardware fragmentation.
5. Follow Material Design Guidelines: Adhere to Google's design guidelines for a user experience consistent with the platform.
6. Test on real devices: Supplement emulator tests with tests on physical devices representative of the target device fleet.
7. Publish and distribute: Submit to the Google Play Store (validation in a few hours) or distribute via Android Enterprise for professional deployments.

Associated Technologies and Tools

• Kotlin: Modern programming language recommended by Google for Android development, with null safety and coroutines.
• Jetpack Compose: Google's declarative toolkit for building modern Android interfaces.
• Android Studio: Google's official IDE based on IntelliJ, with integrated emulator, debugger, and profiling tools.
• Firebase: Backend services suite (Cloud Messaging, Crashlytics, Analytics, Remote Config) widely used in the Android ecosystem.
• Gradle: Build system used by Android for compilation, dependencies, and APK/AAB generation.
• Android Enterprise: Android device fleet management solution for professional deployments.

Conclusion

Android is an essential platform for any mobile strategy, thanks to its dominant market share, open ecosystem, and the diversity of devices it powers. At Kern-IT, we help our Belgian and European clients harness Android's potential by recommending the most suitable technical approach for each project. Whether through React Native to maximise code sharing, native Kotlin development for specific use cases, or a PWA for web-first needs, the goal is always to deliver a performant, maintainable application that reaches the widest possible audience.