Which smartphone operating system is developed by Google?

The smartphone operating system developed by Google is Android. It began with Android Inc., a startup founded in 2003 by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White. Google acquired the company in 2005 and turned Android into the foundation of its mobile strategy.

Android is built around the Android Open Source Project, or AOSP, which uses a modified Linux kernel and is released largely under open-source licenses. Google leads development, while phone makers such as Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus customize the system with their own interfaces and features.

A common mix-up is treating Android as a single identical phone experience. Manufacturers can add different interfaces, app stores, and update schedules, while Google’s own services—such as Google Play and Google Play Services—are separate proprietary components. Android first appeared on a commercial phone, the HTC Dream or T-Mobile G1, in 2008.