Juulis 2005 ostis Google üles väikese alustava firma - Android Inc., asukohaga Palo Altos, California (USA). Ostuga läksid Google alla üle ka Androidi kaasasutajad Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears ja Chris White. Sel hetkel vähesed veel teadsid Androidi funktsioonidest peale selle, et tehakse tarkvara mobiiltelefonidele. See andis põhjust kuulujuttudele, et Google kavatseb siseneda mobiiliturule.
Google'i meeskond, eesotsas Andy Rubiniga arendasid välja Linux kernelil põhineva mobiilsetele seadmetele mõeldud platvormi, mida turustati telefonitootjatele, pakkudes paindlikku ja uuendatavat süsteemi.
Android on olnud saadaval avatud koodiga tarkvarana alates 21. oktoober 2008. Kogu kood on avatud Apache Litsentsi alusel.
Tänaseks on Android operatsioonisüsteemist saanud nutitelefonide lahutamatu osa ja selle populaarsus kasvab meeletu kiirusega.

Esimene telefon, mis töötas Android operatsioonisüsteemil oli HTC Dream, välja antud 22. oktoober 2008.

Android'i ajalugu:

v1.1
Released 9 February 2009


v1.5 (Cupcake)
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.27 On 30 April 2009, the official 1.5 (Cupcake) update for Android was released. There were several new features and UI updates included in the 1.5 update:
  • Ability to record and watch videos through camcorder mode
  • Uploading videos to YouTube and pictures to Picasa directly from the phone
  • A new soft-keyboard with text-prediction
  • Bluetooth A2DP and AVRCP support
  • Ability to automatically connect to a Bluetooth headset within a certain distance
  • New widgets and folders that can populate the Home screens
  • Animated screen transitions


1.6 (Donut)
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.29. On 15 September 2009, the 1.6 (Donut) SDK was released. Included in the update were:
  • An improved Android Market experience
  • An integrated camera, camcorder, and gallery interface
  • Gallery now enables users to select multiple photos for deletion
  • Updated Voice Search, with faster response and deeper integration with native applications, including the ability to dial contacts
  • Updated search experience to allow searching bookmarks, history, contacts, and the web from the home screen
  • Updated technology support for CDMA/EVDO, 802.1x, VPNs, and a text-to-speech engine
  • Support for WVGA screen resolutions
  • Speed improvements in searching and camera applications
  • Gesture framework and GestureBuilder development tool


2.0/2.1 (Eclair)
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.29. On 26 October 2009 the 2.0 (Eclair) SDK was released. Among the changes were:
  • Optimized hardware speed
  • Support for more screen sizes and resolutions
  • Revamped UI
  • New Browser UI and HTML5 support
  • New contact lists
  • Better white-black ratio for backgrounds
  • Improved Google Maps 3.1.2
  • Microsoft Exchange support
  • Built in flash support for Camera
  • Digital Zoom
  • MotionEvent class enhanced to track multi-touch events
  • Improved virtual keyboard
  • Bluetooth 2.1
  • Live Wallpapers

The 2.0.1 SDK was released on 3 December 2009.
The 2.1 SDK was released on 12 January 2010.


2.2 (Froyo)
Based on Linux Kernel 2.6.32. On 20 May 2010 the 2.2 Frozen Yogurt (Froyo) SDK was released. Changes included:

  • General Android OS speed, memory, and performance optimizations
  • Additional application speed improvements courtesy of JIT implementation
  • Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine into the Browser application
  • Increased Microsoft Exchange support (security policies, auto-discovery, GAL look-up, calendar synchronization, remote wipe)
  • Improved application launcher with shortcuts to Phone and Browser applications
  • USB tethering and WiFi hotspot functionality
  • Added an option to disable data access over mobile network
  • Updated Market application with batch and automatic update features
  • Quick switching between multiple keyboard languages and their dictionaries
  • Voice dialing and contact sharing over Bluetooth
  • Support for numeric and alphanumeric passwords
  • Support for file upload fields in the Browser application
  • Browser can now display animated GIFs (instead of just the first frame)
  • Support for installing applications to the expandable memory
  • Adobe Flash 10.1 support



2.3 (Gingerbread)
On 6 December 2010, the 2.3 (Gingerbread) SDK was released. Changes included:
  • Updated user interface design
  • Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions (WXGA and higher)
  • Native support for SIP VoIP telephony
  • Support for WebM/VP8 video playback, and AAC audio encoding
  • New audio effects such as reverb, equalization, headphone virtualization, and bass boost
  • Support for Near Field Communication
  • System-wide copy–paste functionalities
  • Redesigned multi-touch software keyboard
  • Enhanced support for native code development
  • Audio, graphical, and input enhancements for game developers
  • Concurrent garbage collection for increased performance
  • Native support for more sensors (such as gyroscopes and barometers)
  • A download manager for long running downloads
  • Improved power management and application control
  • Native support for multiple cameras
  • Switched from YAFFS to the ext4 filesystem



3.0 (Honeycomb)

On 22 February 2011 the 3.0 (Honeycomb) SDK was released.This is a tablet-only release of Android.The first device featuring this version, the Motorola Xoom tablet, was released on February 24, 2011. Changes include:

  • Optimized tablet support with a new user interface
  • Three dimensional desktop with redesigned widgets
  • Refined multi-tasking
  • Browser enhancements including tabbed web pages, form auto-fill, bookmark syncing with Google Chrome, and private browsing
  • Support for video chat using Google Talk
  • Hardware acceleration
  • Support for multi-core processors


Ice Cream Sandwich

Possible mid-2011 release.