What date was Android first commercially released?

Android was first commercially released on September 23, 2008.

That date refers to the release of Android 1.0, the first commercial version of Google’s mobile operating system. It also marked the release of the Android 1.0 SDK, giving developers the tools to build applications for the new platform.

The date is often confused with two nearby milestones. Google and its partners publicly announced Android on November 5, 2007, but that was the platform’s unveiling rather than its commercial release. The first Android phone, the HTC Dream—sold in the United States as the T-Mobile G1—went on sale on October 22, 2008.

Android 1.0 introduced core services and features including Gmail synchronization, Google Contacts, a web browser, camera support, and Android Market for downloading applications. The operating system later spread across phones from many manufacturers, but its commercial beginning is anchored to the September 23 software release.