Android

Trademark

Android is a mobile operating-system and software-platform brand developed under Google's leadership and used across smartphones, tablets, televisions, cars, and wearable devices.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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First read: Oct 29, 2026
Latest read: Nov 4, 2026

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Overview

Android originated with a mobile-software company founded in 2003 to develop an operating system for mobile devices. Google acquired Android in 2005 and incorporated the project into its broader product organization. In 2007, Google and a group of technology companies formed the Open Handset Alliance, helping establish Android as a broadly adaptable mobile platform. Commercial Android smartphones began reaching the market in 2008. The platform subsequently became one of the world's most widely used mobile operating systems, supported by its ability to run across diverse hardware configurations, a large developer ecosystem, and software-distribution services such as Google Play. Android has expanded beyond phones and tablets into televisions, automotive infotainment, and wearable devices. These categories may use different system variants, interfaces, and service packages, while manufacturers commonly add their own software layers. The Android Open Source Project, or AOSP, provides the open-source core, but Google Mobile Services, app distribution, and other proprietary components are separate from AOSP. Android's commercial importance mainly comes from its operating-system ecosystem, services, and relationships with device makers and carriers rather than from direct sales of Android-branded hardware.

History

The Android project began with an independent mobile-software company. Founded in 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White, the company initially focused on developing an operating system for mobile devices. Google acquired Android in 2005 and continued the project as a platform intended for device manufacturers and software developers. In 2007, Google and several technology companies formed the Open Handset Alliance and publicly introduced the Android platform and its collaborative model. Compared with more closed mobile systems, Android offered substantial flexibility in hardware adaptation and manufacturer customization, while its open-source foundation was developed through the Android Open Source Project. The first commercial Android phones reached consumers in 2008. The platform then attracted phone makers, chip companies, carriers, and developers, and expanded from smartphones into tablets, televisions, cars, and wearable devices. Google continued to provide system updates, developer tools, and services such as Google Play, although the available service package varies by device and region. Manufacturers often build their own interfaces and services on top of AOSP, resulting in differences in appearance, features, and update timing among Android devices. Android therefore functions simultaneously as an operating system, a development platform, and a branded ecosystem. Its core open-source project is distinct from Google's proprietary mobile services: AOSP supplies code that can be developed and ported, while Google Mobile Services and related applications are used under separate licensing and compatibility arrangements.

2008
First commercial Android phones launched
Commercial phones running Android entered the consumer market.
2007
Open Handset Alliance formed
Google and several companies formed the Open Handset Alliance and promoted Android as an industry-wide mobile platform.
2005
Google acquires Android
Google acquired Android Inc. and continued to advance its mobile operating system project.
2003
Android Inc. founded
The early Android development team was established to research an operating system for mobile devices.

Products and positioning

A mobile operating system and software ecosystem platform for multiple device form factors, emphasizing hardware adaptability, developer ecosystem, and open-source foundation.

Mobile operating system · 2008
Android operating system
The Android operating system is the brand's core product, primarily used on smartphones and tablets and adapted to other device categories. It is built around the open-source AOSP project and may be combined with Google Mobile Services and manufacturer software.
TV operating system · 2014
Android TV
Android TV is an Android platform variant for televisions and streaming devices, providing application support, content discovery, and television-oriented interaction. Features vary by manufacturer and service configuration.
Automotive operating system · 2017
Android Automotive
Android Automotive is an in-vehicle operating-system platform that runs directly on automotive hardware and supports infotainment, applications, and selected vehicle-related functions. Its implementation is determined by each automaker.
Enterprise mobile management platform · 2014
Android Enterprise
Android Enterprise provides organizations with device management, security configuration, work-profile separation, and deployment capabilities for managed mobile devices.

Controversies

2020
Arizona sues Google over location tracking
Arizona filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against Google, alleging that it tracked Android users’ location data without their consent. The complaint says location data collection could continue in the background even after users disabled app-specific tracking. Google said the lawsuit mischaracterized its services and said it provided privacy features and controls for location data.
Source
2018
European Commission fines Google over Android practices
The European Commission found that Google had imposed unlawful restrictions connected with Android device distribution and search competition, and issued a competition-law fine.
Source
2018
European Commission Android antitrust decision
The European Commission ruled that Google had imposed restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile network operators that unlawfully reinforced Google Search’s dominant position. The decision concerned preinstallation and licensing practices and resulted in a competition-law fine.
Source

Unconfirmed
Google rolls out Motion Assist anti-motion-sickness feature to Pixel phones[6]Google 向 Pixel 手机推送 Motion Assist 防晕车功能cdn.technews.tw
Google began a staged rollout of a new Android feature called Motion Assist, starting with Pixel phones, which displays visual cues at the screen edges that move with the vehicle to reduce motion sickness while using the phone in a moving car.
Unconfirmed
Reported2026.08.25
Google rolls out Motion Assist on Android 17[7]谷歌在Android 17上推出Motion Assistibtimes.com.au
Google has begun rolling out Motion Assist, a native Android feature that displays animated visual cues around the screen edges to reduce motion sickness for passengers using phones in moving vehicles. The feature is tied to Android 17 and includes a toggle that activates automatically when the phone detects it is in a moving vehicle, a Quick Settings tile, and customization options for color, shape and opacity of the motion indicators.
Unconfirmed
Reported2026.08.17
Android 17 QPR2 beta introduces built-in app lock[8]Android 17 QPR2 测试版引入内置应用锁cnet.com
Google introduced a native app lock feature in the Android 17 QPR2 beta 3 build, allowing users to lock individual apps behind passcode or biometrics. The feature is currently available only on Pixel devices running the beta and is expected to expand with the full QPR2 release in December.
2022.03.11
Reported2022.03.11
Android adds new features, including multi-recipient Nearby Share[9]Android 新增多项功能，包括邻近分享多人传送eprice.com.tw
Google announced multiple Android feature updates, including support for sharing files with multiple people at once through Nearby Share. The source says some features had begun rolling out and others were due soon.
2022.03.10
Reported2022.03.11
Google rolls out air-raid alerts on Android in Ukraine[10]谷歌在乌克兰安卓手机上推出空袭警报econotimes.com
Google began rolling out an Android air-raid alert system in Ukraine at the request and with the help of the Ukrainian government. The system relays alerts issued by the government and supplements the country's existing alert systems.
2022.03.08
Reported2022.03.08
Google releases March Pixel Features Drop and Android 12.1[11]Google 推出 Pixel 三月功能更新与 Android 12.1eprice.com.tw
Google released the March Pixel Features Drop, including new features and the Android 12.1 version of Android 12L; the article also reports security updates and bug fixes.
2022.01.28
Reported2022.01.28
Lenovo releases Android 12L Beta 2 for Tab P12 Pro[12]联想为 Tab P12 Pro 发布 Android 12L Beta 2androidcentral.com
Lenovo released the second Android 12L beta for the Lenovo Tab P12 Pro. The update includes the December 2021 security patch level and is available for the tablet's Wi-Fi version sold outside China.
2021.12.13
Reported2021.12.13
Microsoft releases a Teams update fixing an emergency-calling issue[13]微软发布 Teams 更新，修复紧急呼叫问题finance.sina.com.cn
Microsoft released an update to Teams that fixed an issue in which the app could interfere with Android phones making emergency calls. Google attributed the issue to an unexpected interaction between Teams and the underlying Android system.
2021.12.06
Reported2021.12.07
OnePlus rolls out Android 12 for OnePlus 9 phones[14]OnePlus 为 OnePlus 9 系列推出 Android 12techtimes.com
Android 12 became available for the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro 5G. The article reports that some owners experienced mobile-network problems, particularly with 5G, and says OnePlus had not fixed the issues at the time of publication.
2021.07.27
Reported2021.07.28
Google launches Bug Hunters platform[15]Google推出Bug Hunters平台thehindu.com
Google launched Bug Hunters, a platform where bug hunters can submit vulnerabilities related to Google, Android, Chrome, and Play Store through a single intake form. The platform includes competitions, country-wise leaderboards, and learning content.

Sources75 sources

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Overview

History

Products and positioning

Controversies

Recent events

Related entries

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