With an intention to tackle Android OS' fragmentation issue, Google has released a new framework, called the Fragments API, which will make it simpler for developers to build applications for multiple devices.

The new Android compatibility package will reach Android’s older versions ranging all the way back to Android v1.6.

Figures suggest that more than 50 per cent of Android devices are running on v2.2 "Froyo," and around 25 per cent of devices are using one step lower version of Android operating system- Android v2.1 "Eclair." Android OS v1.6 and v1.5 are also in use.

The recently-released version of Android operating system- v2.3, codenamed Gingerbread, accounts merely for a tiny fraction of Android devices.

Due to the above discussed fragmentation issue developers have to deal with different versions of the operating systems. That also means different screen sizes. Things are also getting worse as tablets sporting 7-inch, 9-inch and 10-inch screens are emerging rapidly.

Google said that they wanted to address the fragmentation issue by making different APIs nearly identical.

Speaking on the new tool, Google's Tim Bray said, "For developers starting work on tablet-oriented applications designed for Android 3.0, the new Fragment API is useful for many design situations that arise from the larger screen.”

Bray added that the reasonable use of fragments would also make it simpler for developers to adjust applications’ UI to future devices, including TVs.