Android 2.2 is already out, and one group of users that is definitely celebrating are the business owners. It might sound strange to mention Android and business owner in the same sentence, but it’s true — business owners are beginning to really embrace Android as their cell phone platform of choice. It’s better to get into a platform that is known for being open and very encouraging of development than a traditional platform that’s more locked in. The next generation of the Android platform is called “Froyo”, short for frozen yogurt. There are plenty of new features to be had in Android 2.2, which is why business owners are looking forward to it.

One of the biggest features that have business owners happy is the rise of better support for Microsoft Exchange. Even though Gmail is generally the email of choice for more casual users, business owners have been using Exchange for a long time, and have most likely invested a lot of money in Exchange maintenance and management. This means that switching away form Exchange is a bit more complicated than it would be for the casual user to sign up for Gmail.

Still, that’s not the only feature that has business owners excited. There’s now support for a portable hotspot, which means that certain phones in the Android lineup could be turned into full out Wi-Fi hotspots at a fraction of the price. Corporate users usually end up buying costly devices from other companies that are far more than the cost of an Android-enabled phone. In 2.2, users will also be able to just connect their phone to their laptop and use the 3G connection there. With the rise of the Sprint EVO 4G, that will become a 4G connection that offers blazing fast speed. Not every business is located in an area known for blisteringly fast internet connections. This would be a great feature for business owners that have to go out on the road a lot to places that don’t have good internet access. One area of note would have to be hotels that promise to have high speed Internet, only to find that the wireless connection is spotty at best and terrible at worst.

Overall, there’s plenty to be had in Android 2.2 for just about every type of user you can think of. Business owners should definitely check to see which Android phones are scheduled to get the 2.2 upgrade, and act accordingly.

Android is an open platform, and that means that if you don’t like a feature set in Android or feel that it needs something else, all you really have to do is wait. Indeed, Android keeps getting better and better, which is probably why it’s becoming one of the hottest selling smartphone lines around. Every carrier has a version of Android to share with its consumers, and that means that variety just isn’t a problem on Android.

However, just because Android is open doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have to evolve and get new features every once in a while. If you’ve been following the tech news, then you already know that Android 2.2 is out. This means that carriers and manufacturers will start pushing out the updates to the various Android handsets on the market. Even though Android 2.2 “Froyo” has been out for a while now, not everyone has been enjoying the new Android 2.2 just yet.

There’s a reason for that. Those in charge of upgrading each handset line don’t always rush out to push out an update. There may be last minute bugs and problems that have to be worked out. This means that instead of getting the most cutting edge Android once it’s released, you may be waiting weeks or even months to catch up. Some phones, like the Motorola i1 on Boost Mobile, are still way back on Android 1.6 — they clearly have a lot more upgrading to do than other phones.

So, what can you expect in Android 2.2? Well, the focus in “Froyo” has been on tightening up the user interface, which means adding more customization options while still giving users the quick navigation that they’ve been looking forward to. There are new shortcuts on the Home screen that make it easier to get to frequently used programs.

Support for Exchange has also been increased in this update, which is something the business community has been hoping for. Business use on Android is something that’s growing as well, which cuts into Research in Motion’s market dramatically. After all, the Blackberry has long been the phone of choice for people in the corporate world, but that could change as Android get more and more powerful as well as secure.

Android 2.2 also turns the heat up on the portability — turning your phone into a giant hotspot could well be a reality, as long as it’s running Android 2.2. Right now, you can share your 3G connection with a laptop by connecting the two with a USB cable — naturally, the cable doesn’t always come with the phone.

Overall, there’s a lot of functionality on the way for consumers that pick up Android 2.2, but they’ll have to wait for that update.