- Android was founded in 2003 by Andy Rubin and was later acquired by Google in 2005. The Open Handset Alliance was formed in 2007 between Google and other technology companies to develop open standards for mobile devices. - Android is an open-source operating system based on a Linux kernel. It uses Java for application development and is designed for touchscreen mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. - Major Android versions include Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean and KitKat. As of 2012, Gingerbread was the most widely used version at around 30% of devices. - Android devices include smartphones