MWC 2011: Google to merge smartphone and tablet Android versions with next release

Google Android

As part of his MWC keynote, Google CEO and Chairman Eric Schmidt confirmed that the next version of Android will “start with an I, be named after a dessert.” More importantly, Schmidt indicated that it will unify the platform (recently split between Android 3.0 for tablets and Android 2.x for smaller-screened devices such as smartphones). Unfortunately, no further details were given.

Google’s upgrade strategy also remains unclear. Will current devices be upgradeable to the next version of Android (assuming that there are no hardware limitations)?

Schmidt also reaffirmed Google’s strategy to release updates every six months or so. With Honeycomb having been unveiled in January (although it never got an official announcement), could we see Ice Cream (assuming that this is the codename for Android’s next version) in June?

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