Android Operating System

Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. While the core software is developed by Google, the actual physical products (smartphones and tablets) that run Android are manufactured by various companies worldwide, including Samsung in South Korea and Vietnam, and various brands in China, India, and Taiwan.

Originally founded in October 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White as Android Inc., the company was acquired by Google in 2005. Since then, Google has led the development of the OS through the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of technology companies. Today, Android is the most widely used operating system in the world, powering billions of devices across the globe.