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m Talks edit request asked only for typo fix. I feel globally important, and/or linking to subsection, since it's not locally most popular on tables always. "By now", may not be important (in the lead), but it is a very recent development, globally. - Undid revision 1304861353 by Alpha Beta Delta Lambda (talk) |
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'''Android''' is an [[operating system]] based on a modified version of the [[Linux kernel]] and other [[open-source software]], designed primarily for [[touchscreen]]-based mobile devices such as [[smartphone]]s and [[tablet computer]]s. Android has historically been developed by a [[consortium]] of [[
<!--Brief info about the OS and structure.-->At its core, the operating system is known as the '''Android Open Source Project''' ('''AOSP''')<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=July 21, 2018 |title=Google's iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/ |access-date=December 31, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref> and is [[free and open-source software]] (FOSS) primarily licensed under the [[Apache License]]. However, most devices run the [[proprietary software|proprietary]] Android version developed by Google, which ships with additional proprietary closed-source software pre-installed,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/android-really-open-source-matter/|title=Is Android Really Open Source? And Does It Even Matter?|website=MakeUseOf|date=March 28, 2016}}</ref> most notably [[Google Mobile Services]] (GMS),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.android.com/gms/|title=Android – Google Mobile Services|website=Android|quote=While the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) provides common, device-level functionalities such as email and calling, GMS is not part of AOSP. GMS is only available through a license with Google [..] We ask GMS partners to pass a simple compatibility test and adhere to our compatibility requirements for their Android devices.|access-date=October 21, 2018}}</ref> which includes core apps such as [[Google Chrome]], the [[digital distribution]] platform [[Google Play]], and the associated [[Google Play Services]] development platform. [[Firebase Cloud Messaging]] is used for push notifications. While AOSP is free, the "Android" name and logo are [[Trademark|trademarks]] of Google, who restrict the use of Android branding on "uncertified" products.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://source.android.com/setup/start/faqs |access-date=January 4, 2021 |publisher=Android Open Source Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Simon |first=Michael |date=December 26, 2016 |title=With Cyanogen dead, Google's control over Android is tighter than ever |url=https://www.greenbot.com/article/3153485/with-cyanogen-dead-googles-control-over-android-is-tighter-than-ever.html |access-date=January 4, 2021 |website=www.greenbot.com}}</ref> The majority of smartphones based on AOSP run Google's ecosystem—which is known simply as Android—some with [[vendor]]-customized user interfaces and software suites,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Terry |date=July 28, 2014 |title=Google and Android Are Not the Same... and That's a Good Thing |url=https://appdevelopermagazine.com/google-and-android-are-not-the-same...-and-that's-a-good-thing/ |access-date=July 29, 2020 |work=App Developer Magazine}}</ref> for example [[One UI]]. Numerous [[List of custom Android distributions|modified distributions]] exist, which include competing [[Fire OS|Amazon Fire OS]], community-developed [[LineageOS]]; the source code has also been used to develop a variety of Android distributions on a range of other devices, such as [[Android TV]] for televisions, [[Wear OS]] for [[Wearable computer|wearables]], and [[Meta Horizon OS]] for [[virtual reality headset|VR headsets]]. <!--END Brief info about the OS and structure.-->
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== History<!--Android Inc and Android Inc. redirect here--> ==
{{See also|Android version history}}
=== 2000s ===
'''Android Inc.'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> was founded in [[Palo Alto, California]], in October 2003 by [[Andy Rubin]] and Chris White, with [[Rich Miner]] and Nick Sears<ref>{{cite web |title=Google's Android OS: Past, Present, and Future |url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Googles-Android-OS-Past-Present-and-Future_id21273 |website=PhoneArena |date=August 18, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313044444/http://www.phonearena.com/news/Googles-Android-OS-Past-Present-and-Future_id21273 |archive-date=March 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Google Buys Android">{{cite web |first=Ben |last=Elgin |title=Google Buys Android for Its Mobile Arsenal |url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050817_0949_tc024.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205190729/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2005/tc20050817_0949_tc024.htm |website=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |date=August 17, 2005 |archive-date=February 5, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2017}}</ref> joining later. Rubin had previously been the creator of the [[T-Mobile Sidekick]] under his previous company [[Danger, Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ganapati |first=Priya |title=T-Mobile's G1 Android Phone: Neither Open nor Exciting |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/09/g1-android-phon/ |access-date=2025-05-30 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=2007-11-04 |title=I, Robot: The Man Behind the Google Phone |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/technology/04google.html |access-date=2025-05-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Rubin and White started out to build an operating system for [[digital camera]]s viz ''FotoFrame''. The company name was changed to ''Android'' as Rubin already owned the [[___domain name]] <code>android.com</code>. After having built a prototype internally known as the "Fadden demo" predominantly by purchasing licensing agreements for most of the software components built around a custom [[JavaScript]] front-end, the company failed to convince investors, and so in April 2004 they pivoted to building an operating system for phones at the suggestion of Nick Sears,<ref name=hasse1>{{cite book |title=Androids: The Team that Built Android Operating System |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qyc9EAAAQBAJ |last=Haase |first=Chet |chapter=Android the... Camera OS? |date=August 13, 2021 |isbn=978-1-7373548-2-6 | publisher=Chet Haase}}</ref><ref name="pcworld-camera-os">{{cite web |first=Jay |last=Alabaster |title=Android founder: We aimed to make a camera OS |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2034723/android-founder-we-aimed-to-make-a-camera-os.html |website=[[PC World]] |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |date=April 16, 2013 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510103305/http://www.pcworld.com/article/2034723/android-founder-we-aimed-to-make-a-camera-os.html |archive-date=May 10, 2017 }}</ref> as a rival to [[Symbian]] and Microsoft [[Windows Mobile]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Welch |title=Before it took over smartphones, Android was originally destined for cameras |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/4/16/4230468/android-originally-designed-for-cameras-before-smartphones |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=April 16, 2013 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429062213/http://www.theverge.com/2013/4/16/4230468/android-originally-designed-for-cameras-before-smartphones |archive-date=April 29, 2017 }}</ref> Rubin pitched the Android project as having "tremendous potential in developing smarter mobile devices that are more aware of its owner's ___location and preferences".<ref name="Google Buys Android" /> Due to difficulty attracting investors early on, Android faced potential eviction from its office space. [[Steve Perlman (entrepreneur)|Steve Perlman]], a close friend of Rubin, brought him $10,000 in cash in an envelope, and shortly thereafter wired an undisclosed amount as seed funding. Perlman refused a stake in the company, and has stated "I did it because I believed in the thing, and I wanted to help Andy."<ref>{{cite web |first=Lisa |last=Eadicicco |title=THE RISE OF ANDROID: How a flailing startup became the world's biggest computing platform |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-android-was-created-2015-3 |website=[[Business Insider]] |publisher=[[Axel Springer SE]] |date=March 27, 2015 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520025143/http://www.businessinsider.com/how-android-was-created-2015-3 |archive-date=May 20, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Ashlee |last=Vance |author-link=Ashlee Vance |title=Steve Perlman's Wireless Fix |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-07-27/steve-perlmans-wireless-fix |url-access=subscription |website=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |date=July 29, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319032000/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-07-27/steve-perlmans-wireless-fix |archive-date=March 19, 2017 }}</ref>
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Since 2008, Android has seen [[Android version history|numerous updates]] which have incrementally improved the operating system, adding new features and fixing [[Software bug|bugs]] in previous releases. The first two Android versions were internally codenamed [[Astro Boy]] and [[Bender (Futurama)|Bender]] but licensing issues meant subsequent releases were named after dessert or sugary treat in an alphabetical order, with the first few Android versions being called "[[Petit Four]]", "[[Cupcake]]", "[[Donut]]", "[[Eclair]]",<ref name=hasse27>{{cite book |title=Androids: The Team that Built Android Operating System |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qyc9EAAAQBAJ |last=Haase |first=Chet |chapter=Managing All the Things |date=August 13, 2021 |isbn=978-1-7373548-2-6 | publisher=Chet Haase}}</ref> and "[[Frozen yogurt|Froyo]]", in that order. During its announcement of [[Android KitKat]] in 2013, Google explained that "Since these devices make our lives so sweet, each Android version is named after a dessert", although a Google spokesperson told [[CNN]] in an interview that "It's kind of like an internal team thing, and we prefer to be a little bit—how should I say—a bit inscrutable in the matter, I'll say".<ref>{{cite web |first=Murali K. |last=Menon |title=Android Nougat: Here's why Google names the OS after sweets |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/from-donut-to-nougat-why-are-android-versions-named-after-sweets-2887237/ |website=[[The Indian Express]] |publisher=[[Indian Express Limited]] |date=July 3, 2016 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313044156/http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/from-donut-to-nougat-why-are-android-versions-named-after-sweets-2887237/ |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref>
=== 2010s ===
In 2010, Google launched its [[Google Nexus|Nexus]] series of devices, a lineup in which Google partnered with different device manufacturers to produce new devices and introduce new Android versions. The series was described as having "played a pivotal role in Android's history by introducing new software iterations and hardware standards across the board", and became known for its "[[Software bloat|bloat-free]]" software with "timely ... updates".<ref>{{cite web |first=Florence |last=Ion |title=From Nexus One to Nexus 10: a brief history of Google's flagship devices |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/05/from-the-nexus-one-to-the-nexus-10-a-brief-history-of-nexus-devices/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624004245/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/05/from-the-nexus-one-to-the-nexus-10-a-brief-history-of-nexus-devices/ |archive-date=June 24, 2017 }}</ref> At its [[Google I/O|developer conference]] in May 2013, Google announced a special version of the [[Samsung Galaxy S4]], where, instead of using Samsung's own Android customization, the phone ran "stock Android" and was promised to receive new system updates fast.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sean |last=Hollister |title=Google turns the Samsung Galaxy S4 into a Nexus phone, coming June 26th for $649 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/15/4333716/galaxy-s4-stock-android-google-io-2013 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226220255/http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/15/4333716/galaxy-s4-stock-android-google-io-2013 |archive-date=December 26, 2016 }}</ref> The device would become the start of the [[List of Google Play edition devices|Google Play edition]] program, and was followed by other devices, including the [[HTC One (M7)|HTC One]] Google Play edition,<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |title=Review: The HTC One Google Play edition offers the best of both worlds |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/07/review-the-htc-one-google-play-edition-offers-the-best-of-both-worlds/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=July 4, 2013 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313043321/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/07/review-the-htc-one-google-play-edition-offers-the-best-of-both-worlds/ |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref> and [[Moto G (1st generation)|Moto G]] Google Play edition.<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |title=Moto G Google Play edition replaces near-stock Android with stock Android |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/01/moto-g-google-play-edition-replaces-near-stock-android-with-stock-android/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313042911/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/01/moto-g-google-play-edition-replaces-near-stock-android-with-stock-android/ |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref> In 2015, ''[[Ars Technica]]'' wrote that "Earlier this week, the last of the Google Play edition Android phones in Google's online storefront were listed as "no longer available for sale" and that "Now they're all gone, and it looks a whole lot like the program has wrapped up".<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Cunningham |title=Don't cry for the Google Play edition program; it was already dead |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/01/dont-cry-for-the-google-play-edition-program-it-was-already-dead/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=January 25, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313124209/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/01/dont-cry-for-the-google-play-edition-program-it-was-already-dead/ |archive-date=March 13, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Chavez |title=Google kills off the last remaining Google Play Edition device in the Play Store |url=http://phandroid.com/2015/01/21/google-kills-htc-one-m8-google-play-edition/ |website=Phandroid |date=January 21, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129102958/http://phandroid.com/2015/01/21/google-kills-htc-one-m8-google-play-edition/ |archive-date=November 29, 2016 }}</ref>
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On August 22, 2019, it was announced that Android "Q" would officially be branded as Android 10, ending the historic practice of naming major versions after desserts. Google stated that these names were not "inclusive" to international users (due either to the aforementioned foods not being internationally known, or being difficult to pronounce in some languages).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/22/20827231/android-10-q-google-name-officially-announced-new-logo-wordmark-desserts|title=Google deserts desserts: Android 10 is the official name for Android Q|last=Bohn|first=Dieter|date=August 22, 2019|website=The Verge|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/08/unsweetened-android-swaps-sugary-codenames-for-boring-numbers/|title=Unsweetened: Android swaps sugary codenames for boring numbers|last=Amadeo|first=Ron|date=August 22, 2019|website=Ars Technica|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> On the same day, ''Android Police'' reported that Google had commissioned a statue of a giant number "10" to be installed in the lobby of the developers' new office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/08/22/androids-iconic-dessert-names-are-going-away-starting-with-android-10/|title=Android's iconic dessert names are going away, starting with Android 10|date=August 22, 2019|website=Android Police|access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> Android 10 was released on September 3, 2019, to [[Google Pixel]] phones first.
=== 2020s ===
In late 2021, some users reported that they were unable to dial emergency services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=December 10, 2021 |title=Go read this story explaining in detail the scary Teams bug that blocked a 911 call |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/10/22828234/microsoft-teams-android-bug-blocked-911-call-go-read-this |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=This important Microsoft Teams for Android update fixes the strange 911 calling bug |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-important-microsoft-teams-for-android-update-fixes-the-strange-911-calling-bug/ |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref> The problem was caused by a combination of bugs in Android and in the [[Microsoft Teams]] app; both companies released updates addressing the issue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=January 5, 2022 |title=Google fixes nightmare Android bug that stopped user from calling 911 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/01/google-fixes-nightmare-android-bug-that-stopped-user-from-calling-911/ |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref>
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=== Platform information ===
{{Main|Android version history}}
Android has 72% market share <!-- with Samsung's 0.28% --> vs Apple's iOS/iPadOS at 28% (on [[tablet computer|tablets]] alone Android is slightly ahead of Apple's iPadOS globally, with Android at 50.47%, and iPadOS at 49.27%,<ref name="tablet stats">{{Cite web |title=Tablet Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/tablet/worldwide/ |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}</ref> some continents are slightly ahead for either platform, and some are far ahead for either tablet platform, Android tablets area ahead in virtually all countries,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tablet Operating System Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/tablet/worldwide/#monthly-202504-202504-map |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}</ref> e.g. India, and in Europe, with some notable exceptions such as the US (iPadOS 53%), and in China (iPadOS 64%)<!-- exceptions the US, Canada, thus likely North America, only continent? And China, Australia, plus few others, e.g. not India. -->). Of all operating systems Android is first at 43%, followed by Windows at 29%, then iOS at 17%. Android 15 is the most popular Android version on smartphones and Android 14 on tablets.
{{As of|2025|08}}, Android 15 is most popular Android version on smartphones at 27%,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Android Version Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/android-version-market-share/mobile/worldwide/#monthly-202403-202504 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}</ref> followed by Android 14 (at 19%, down from 37% peak), 13, 12, 11 and 10. Android is more used than iOS is virtually all countries, with few exceptions such as iOS has a 58% share in the US. Android 15 is the most-used version on 3 continents, and many countries, including US/North America (38%), Europe, Asia, India, China and Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Android Version Market Share China |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/android-version-market-share/mobile/china/#daily-20250501-20250520 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Android Version Market Share China |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/android-version-market-share/mobile/china/#daily-20250401-20250430 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=StatCounter Global Stats |language=en}}</ref> Usage of Android 13 and newer, i.e. supported versions, is at 61%<!-- thereof Android 16 at 0.81% -->, the rest of users are not supported with security updates; with recently supported Android 12 (last security updates in 2025), use is at 73%<!-- and with Android 11 at 84%-->.
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