Google I/O 2021 is presently ongoing, this year on a virtual basis due to the prevailing COVID 19 pandemic. One of the fallouts from the ongoing event is the announcement that active devices running the Android operating system have gone beyond 3 billion.

Google’s Vice President of product management, Sameer Samat, broke the news of the milestone during the virtual event. The estimates were obtained via Google Play Store records which means it could even be higher than the current estimates considering that there are millions of Android devices not preinstalled with Google Play Store. For instance, Huawei smartphones, Amazon Fire devices, etc. These Android devices could account for a considerable quantum of active Android devices.

This new disclosure means 500 million Android users were added since the 2019 Google I/O Developers Conference. However, 1 billion active users have been added since 2017 when the estimates crossed the 2 billion mark.

The hugely conservative estimate of active Android devices shows the prevalence and growth of Android applications globally. The numbers far eclipsed that of active iOS devices, which Apple put at just above a billion. Android will maintain its leading position in years to come as Google continues to reinvent the wheel of the Android ecosystem.

During the event, Google announced the next-generation Android 12 operating system and rolled out a list of eligible models that will get the beta update. In addition, the versatility of the Android OS continues to be seen with its application to an ever-growing array of solutions from TVs, smartphones, and a bevy of smart home appliances.

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Apple recently announced that it will host a virtual WWDC starting on June 7. Now, Google has cryptically announced that its I/O 2021 will also be virtual and will start from May 18.

9to5Google was quick to decode the message on the I/O 2021 announcement. In a tweet, Google has shared the teaser and a link that takes us to an event page. Here, we see a set of puzzles with messages hidden inside the punchcards.

On decoding them, we get a message that Google I/O 2021 will be held virtually i.e, online skipping the usual Shoreline Amphitheater place and it will be free for everyone as well. Similarly, Apple has also said that developers don’t need to pay an entrance fee to attend the WWDC 2021 event.

Further, the message also has the event date and according to the report, Google I/O 2021 will be held from May 18 to May 20, 2021. We can expect announcements regarding the Chrome, Google Assitant, and Android 12 Beta.

In 2019, Google used the I/O to announce its first-ever mid-range Pixel 3a/ 3a XL smartphones in May. However, the successor got pushed to October the next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, reports say that the Pixel 5a will be launching on June 11 which, if turns out to be true, will once again skip the launch at the I/O. However, there is a possibility that the ‘Pixel Buds A‘ wireless earbuds could launch at the event but let’s wait for an official confirmation.

Either way, Android and Chrome OS developers should watch out for the event as the company is expected to announce exciting updates regarding its future.

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