Which 2008 mobile operating system was developed by Google?

The mobile operating system developed by Google and first released in 2008 was Android. It was created for touchscreen devices such as smartphones and tablets and is based on a modified version of the Linux kernel.

Android’s origins trace back to Android Inc., founded by Andy Rubin and others. Google acquired the company in 2005, then helped introduce the Open Handset Alliance in 2007. The alliance included technology companies, handset manufacturers, carriers, and chipmakers working on an open mobile platform.

Android 1.0 officially launched on September 23, 2008, on the HTC Dream, also sold as the T-Mobile G1. Early versions were associated with dessert-themed names, including Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, and Froyo, although later releases moved away from using those names publicly.

A common mix-up is treating Android as solely a Google-made hardware platform. Google leads its development, but Android’s ecosystem includes the open-source Android Open Source Project, device makers, carriers, and proprietary services such as Google Mobile Services. Windows Mobile, Symbian, and iOS are separate operating systems.