Android operating system and mobile software

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. It was originally developed by Android Inc., which was founded in Palo Alto, California, in 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White.

In 2005, Google acquired Android Inc., and the brand has since become the world's most popular mobile platform. While the software itself is developed primarily in the United States, devices running the Android OS are manufactured by a wide range of global hardware partners including Samsung, Google, and Xiaomi, primarily within manufacturing hubs in Asia. As of 2026, Android remains under the ultimate ownership of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google.