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System

Android

Operating System

Android is an operating system developed by Google for smartphones and tablets, built on a modified version of the Linux kernel together with other open-source software. First released in 2008, it became the world's most widely used operating system and the most used operating system for smartphones.

Facts
Year
2008 1
Significance
Android is also the reference implementation atop the Linux kernel for the AOSP ecosystem. 2
Significance
World's most widely used operating system overall and the most used operating system for smartphones, with 3.9 billion users. 1
Status
Status
Active / In Use 1
Connections

In Field

Operating Systems, Fields
Source Android (operating system) - Wikipedia

Invented By

Andy Rubin, Pioneers
Source Programming Language Database (PLDB): Android

Licensed Under

Apache License 2.0, Concepts
Source Android (operating system) - Wikipedia
GNU General Public License Version 2, Concepts
Source Android (operating system) - Wikipedia
In the Other Atlases

Developed By

Google

Also in Business Atlas: the developer of this subject.

Sources
1. Android (operating system) - Wikipedia
  • History section, 2000s subsection
    The first commercially available smartphone running Android was the HTC Dream, also known as T-Mobile G1, announced on September 23, 2008.
  • Opening paragraph
    Android is the world's most widely used operating system with 3.9 billion users, and the most used operating system for smartphones.
  • Lead paragraph, Wikipedia
  • Lead sentence
    Android is an operating system developed by Google, designed primarily for smartphones and tablets (touchscreen-based mobile devices originally; later for other devices, such as TVs and PCs), based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-sourc
  • Lead section
    The latest version, released on June 16, 2026, is Android 17.
  • Licensed Under: Apache License 2.0, Infobox: license
    Apache License 2.0 for userspace software, GNU GPL v2 for the Linux kernel modifications
  • Licensed Under: GNU General Public License Version 2, Infobox: license
    Apache License 2.0 for userspace software, GNU GPL v2 for the Linux kernel modifications
View the Source
2. Android (operating system) (Wikipedia)
Lead paragraph, WikipediaView the Source
Programming Language Database (PLDB): Android
Programming Language Database (PLDB)Invented By: Andy Rubin, Page lead
Quote, Invented By: Andy Rubin, Page lead
created in 2008 by Andy Rubin
View the Source
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