MWC: Google Claims 300M Android Users

Google has used the annual Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona to underline the success of its Android operating system, revealing that there are now 300 million device in use running on the platform.

This growth has led to a year-on-year increase of device activations by 250 percent, to an eye-popping 850,000 per day.

SVP for mobile Andy Rubin wrote in a blog post, “Last year at MWC, we announced that there were more than 150,000 apps in Android Market. That number tripled to more than 450,000 apps today, with over one billion app downloads happening every month.”

Rubin also touted the partnerships the firm has with mobile phone manufacturers, despite ongoing concerns that its purchase of Motorola could threaten the open-nature of the Android operating system.

“If you walk around the Android stand, it’s also evident that our hardware partners are thriving. There are 100+ devices on display at the conveyor belt bar, which is just a small portion of the 800+ Android devices that have launched to date,” he said.

The comments come after rumours surfaced last week that the firm is planning to oust current Motorola chief executive Sanjay Jha and replace him with a Google employee, in a move that would seem to go against previous statements it would run the firm as an independent unit.

This article was originally published on V3.