Patrick Ingham - Google Android Programming

With over one billion million phones in the world, and sales showing no signs of slowing down, the Open Source Google Android holds the access points for an increasingly concentrated market. With the launch of nti™s new Android course, we asked Patrick Ingham, the course developer and trainer, to share his thoughts.

Easy to link with Google Maps, Applications, Analytics, Mail and the soon to be launched Google Wave; the first complete mobile phone software stack is presented to you by Google.

New media technologies are the future, increasing the opportunities for developing innovative software applications, particularly for mobile. Digital mobile marketing opens a whole new world of cost-effective, measurable, accountable and mass personalised marketing.

Q. Tell us about Google Android and the opportunities it presents.

A. Technology is often misconceived and attached to the office space. If you ask anyone how long they have had their mobile for, they will often say around five years. Changes in the use of technology have seen the emergence of social applications like Twitter, Flickr and Facebook. Mobile as an open source social medium has the potential to make a high impact on business. Traditional models of closed computer systems aren™t sustainable for keeping up with technological changes or peoples expectations.

Google offers cutting edge developments free to use by all. Unlike the iPhone, a poor marketing campaign has only recently seen Google Android in the commercial domain.

Q. What are the benefits of the Google Android?

A. Google Android phone opens up the potential to develop future applications on the SDK Android operating system. I predict that this will happen at a faster rate than Apple because it is open to a wider community of developers. The Google Android Programming apps are sociable and commercial. Games are an engaging way of interacting with the target market. My favourite application is the Google SkyMap. It uses GPS mapping to track stars and present visually in your hand. Amazing! The data recognition features are incredibly useful.

Links to networks, webcams and security applications, web feeds and mashups have enhanced marketing strategy results for business capital. Businesses are also beginning to use phones to interact with each other internally, passing documents, chatting, notification systems and increasing work flow efficiently.

Q. Why do you think Open Source technology like Google Android is so important?

A. Open Source software like Google Android opens the doors for sharing ideas and for gaining an understanding of the process to get apps to market place.

Products developed on existing open source code are ready for the market very quickly.
Also, as is the case with Android, highly skilled communities spring up around the more mainstream products. This means that support capacity for the development of your products should be available locally.

Q. What™s great about nti™s training?

A. nti Leeds is a dynamic organisation acting as a creative and digital hub for our Region. The trainers are all specialists in their field, and we all aim to provide the very best experience for our clients. As well as training there™s a host of events and meetups and Old Broadcasting House is a really great place to network and make new contacts.

nti provides an environment where people can build their skills and use these to make a real impact in their business. Our clients tell us that the training has a significant positive impact on productivity, which reduces costs. Wider projects such as the Open Source for Business (OS4B) project mean that as well as training you can engage with new ideas which can open up a range of exciting prospects. And of course the coffee here is really good.

For more information about the Google Android Programming Essentials you can find out about the course by visiting http://www.ntileeds.co.uk/course/open-source-course/google-android-programming-essentials/ 

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