Google’s Device Seeding Program to Boost Android Development

So just in case you haven’t noticed, in the Android world, there are a lot of phones running very different versions of the Android OS. Phones like the CLIQ and Hero running version 1.5, the Magic and G1 running 1.6, the Droid running 2.0.1, the Nexus running 2.1, etc.

Google is getting concerned that there are developers out there using the older OS’s and developing apps on them that end up not being compatible with newer versions like 2.0 and up. So what are they going to do about it you ask? How about a phone giveaway?

Sounds good to Google who has begun their “Device Seeding Program” in a few countries around the world. The concept of the Device Seeding Program is to get all the developers up to speed by giving them 2.0 or higher devices that they can develop on.

In order to qualify you must have an app already in the Market and it must be rated three stars or better or at least have 5000 downloads or more.

So what device do developers get? Well that depends slightly on where you are located. Developers in the US will receive either a Verizon Droid or a Nexus One (at random) while all other developers (only Canada, the EU, Hong Kong, Lichtenstein, Norway Switzerland, Singapore, or Taiwan will receive devices) will be receiving a Nexus One.

It’s good to see Google realizing the issues their rapid development is creating and try to nip it in the butt before it gets worse (and just in time for the Game Developers Conference, too).

Think this will spur development for Android so it can catch up with the iPhone or what?

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