Last week at its annual developers conference, Google’s senior director of mobile platforms, told the audience that at least 18 Android-based phones and as many as 20 would be available for sale by the end of the year. It was a sign that Android was getting some serious traction. But while this was a welcome milestone for the OS, IMS Research analyst Chris Schreck said that the fragmentation that could arise from the widespread adoption could end up being its biggest threat. 

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile USA’s CTO Cole Brodman: Second Android Phone Details Coming in ‘Next Few Weeks’

Specifically, Shreck said that one of Android’s features that appeals to handset makers and mobile network operators is that its license agreement from the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) doesn’t require changes made to the code to be contributed back to the open source community. This was done to allow companies to incorporate their own intellectual property into their Android phones—and thereby differentiate their products from their rivals—without forcing them to share their IP with other OHA members.

“The flip side of that coin,” said Shreck, “is that it also allows for multiple versions of the platform to exist independently of each other.” As more handset makers strive to build differentiated cellphones, more “platform variants” emerge.