Google Pushing Android 2.2 to Nexus One

Google began officially pushing its Android 2.2 operating system build over the air yesterday to the thousands of users who own the Google Nexus One smartphone.

The search engine turned phone provider in January by rolling out the popular Android 2.1-based Nexus One initailly via a webstore unlocked or with a two-year T-Mobile contract.

Users access latest OS features

Android 2.2, Google’s latest operating system (OS) build, or Froyo as it’s called, features speed improvements, a cloud-to-device messaging application programming interface (API), and enterprise and security controls for running Microsoft Exchange. Android 2.2 also allows handsets to become a Wi-Fi hotspot and supports Adobe Flash within the browser.

Motorola pledged last week that Android 2.2 would come to its new Android 2.1-based Motorola Droid X device, which launches later this summer.

Now the Nexus One, which has been getting some sporadic Android 2.2 upgrades, is going live with Android 2.2 en masse.

Google explained how it will happen: “In order to access the update, you will receive a message on your phone’s notification bar. Just download the update, wait for it to install, and you should be all set.”

Google said this update will be rolled out gradually to phones, with most users receiving the notification by the end of the week.