[dagw]

I doubt it will happen. One of Android's big selling points for phone manufacturers was that they could use Android as a free and solid base to add their own unique additions to. There really is little interest from them to make Android phones generic and interchangeable. If the platforms are too consistent then there is no reason people won't replace their Samsung Android phone with an HTC Android phone next time they upgrade, and Samsung certainly doesn't want that.

[SkyMarshal]

All true, but it's also true that it's ultimately in all their best interests to build a strong app ecosystem for the platform as a necessary but not sufficient requisite for competing with Apple.

The individual hardware makers may not think that way, but Google certainly should be, and is in a position to frame that problem and take the lead in solving it.

[gte910h]

Additionally, handset makers have a contrary interest to keeping things updated. They literally make money when you decide you have to buy a new phone because your old one can't run the newest apps.