Android, the open source project sponsored by Google, is one of the hottest operating systems on the planet and is projected by Gartner Group to be the #1 mobile operating system by 2014. But while Android is feature rich and free in terms of acquisition cost, but still requires proper management and control. You need to address the fact that, while enabling innovation, Android:

• - was created using the GPLv2 licensed Linux kernel 
• - is a Google project that now represents a fork in the Linux kernel
• - has grown to a collection of ~185 different sub-components
• - is written under ~19 different open source licenses
• - has licenses that are reciprocal, and not all OSI-approved, and 
• - is on track to have a major release roughly every 3 months

The challenge for your development organization is how to manage building software on a rapidly changing open-source operating system with parallel development forks, is governed by multiple licenses, all within the context of your aggressive release cycle.
Fortunately SCI has the answer: Android Fast Start, a bundled software and service that gets you up and controlling Android fast. You’ll be able to manage the continual changes and associated operational, legal, and security challenges in a seamless process integrated into your Android development environment.

Scope of the Android Fast Start Offering

SCI Software’s Android Fast Start has two major components. First, a software platform, the SCI Suite, which is pre-configured and populated with detailed Android component information and structured to provide maximum flexibility with your development approach. Second, our “Android Ready” Professional Services will deploy, integrate and configure the solution in your development environment, complete with build-system integration and customized approval workflow. With SCI’s Android Fast Start you get rapid implementation of a comprehensive governance and compliance platform that provides change management, ensures and simplifies compliance, and guarantees visibility into what’s changed with each major release of Android.

Key Features and Benefits

Android Fast Start includes the installation and configuration of our pre-populated software management platform. Our SCI Professional Services experts will get you up and running as quickly as possible and enable your team to automate compliance management on an ongoing basis.

Features

• - The SCI Suite “pre-loaded” with the latest release of Android
• - The sub-components of Android identified with their origins and configured to provide maximum flexibility for your development management approach 
• “- Android Ready” Professional Services to deploy, integrate and configure the SCI Suite in your development environment 
• - Complete itemized software BoM (bill of material) for the current release of Android
• - Database of component license and their associated legal obligations
• - Customized Android Audit Report includes the composition of Android and its licenses
• - On-going notification of changes for each major release, enabling your team to focus on innovation and manage only the “deltas.”

Benefits

• - Instantly implement an “out of the box” governance and compliance platform, pre-populated with Android, saving weeks of ramp up time.
• - Change management: complete visibility into future releases and what’s changed
• - Ensure and simplify compliance
• - Mitigates risk and exposure
• - Use the Android Audit Report to improve communication with supply chain partners
• - Ship your software with confidence by simplifying and automating the operational and compliance challenges