Android – a mobile operating system runs on the Linux kernel. Developed by Android Inc., and later purchased by Google, and recently by the Open Handset Alliance (a consortium of 47 hardware, software, and telecom companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices). It allows developers to write Java managed codes and control the device via Google-developed Java libraries. Offers applications that can be downloaded and installed with the aid of wireless network (Wi-Fi). However, unlike Symbian OS and Windows Mobile, Android does not support video-call or native J2ME and blue tooth file exchange.
Google released most of the Android code under the Apache License, a free software and open source license on 5th November 2007. Since its release Android has undergone several updates from fixing bugs to adding new features. Read more