Android is a software platform for mobile devices based on the Linux operating system. It was developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. The document then provides a history of Android versions from 1.0 in 2007 to 4.1/4.2 Jelly Bean in 2012. It also describes key Android features like its application framework, Dalvik virtual machine, integrated browser, and hardware integration for graphics, audio, video, Bluetooth, GPS and more. Finally, it outlines the basic building blocks of an Android application like activities, intents, services, content providers and broadcast receivers, and provides an example "Hello World" application code.