'Fragmentation is the biggest problem for Android'

Matt Miller of ustwo has said that fragmentation is by far the biggest problem holding back Google's Android platform – saying that it makes developers work harder than they have to for Apple's iOS.

Speaking as part of a panel on how to be a successful mobile developer at the Evolve in London event, Miller made clear that standardisation has to be a key point on Google's agenda if it intends to attract the sort of success that Apple has with the App store.

"At the moment it's fragmentation," replied Miller, when asked what he saw as the biggest problem with Android.

"There are so many different devices for Android that you have to put so much more effort into doing it right – and if you're not going to do it right, don't bother doing it.

"Because of that fragmentation it makes it so much more of a hassle for us – it tires and drains you."

Ustwo is the studio behind mobile app MouthOff, which has sold over 100,000 copies on iPhone, whilst the Android version has only just reached 4000 sales - although Miller admitted to the Android version being marketed "less aggressively".

Also speaking on the panel were Hand Circus' Simon Oliver, Neonplay's Oli Christie and Matthew Wiggins of Wonderland Software. Wiggins was emphatic in his support of Miller's argument, calling the fragmentation a "complete nightmare" which Google must address.