Android OS

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. Originally developed by Android Inc., which was founded in Palo Alto, California, in 2003, the brand was created by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White.

In 2005, Google acquired Android Inc., and the platform was unveiled in 2007 along with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA). Today, Android is the world's most widely used mobile operating system. While the software development is led by Google in the United States, the 'manufacturing' or implementation occurs globally as various hardware manufacturers such as Samsung, Xiaomi, and Motorola adapt the operating system for their specific devices produced in factories worldwide.

As of 2026, the brand remains under the ultimate ownership of Alphabet Inc., the parent company formed during a corporate restructuring of Google in 2015. Alphabet oversees the continued evolution of the platform, including its integration with artificial intelligence and cloud services, ensuring its position at the forefront of the global mobile ecosystem.