ANDROID –A MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEM

ABSTRACT

The Android operating system is developed by Google team. It is an operating system for mobiles. Google  has   made   most   of   the Android   platform   available   under   the   Apache free­ software  and open  source   license. Android  is  a  freely downloadable  open   source   software   stack   for mobile devices   that   includes  an operating system, middleware and key applications based on Linux and Java.  Google developed Android collaboratively as part of  the Open Handset Alliance, a group   of more than 30 mobile and technology   companies  working   to open up  the  mobile handset environment.

INTRODUCTION

Android  is   a   software platform  and  operating  system  for mobile devices, based on  the Linux kernel,  and developed by Google and  later   the Open Handset Alliance.  It  allows developers   to  write  managed   code   in   the   Java   language, controlling the device via Google­developed Java libraries. Applications   written   in   C   and   other   languages   can   be compiled to ARM native  code and run, but this development path   isn’t   officially   supported   by   Google.   Android   is available   as   open   source. Google   threw  open   the   entire source code (including network and  telephony stacks)  that  were   not   available   previously,   under   an  Apache   license. Certain parts  that relate to a  specific hardware can’t be made open and are not considered part  of the Android  platform. With   Apache License,  vendors  are free to add proprietary extensions without submitting those back to the open source community.  While Google’s  contributions   to  this platform are expected  to  remain open­  sourced,    the branches  could explode using varieties of licenses.

HISTORY

1) Acquisition by Google

In July 2005, Google acquired Android,  Inc.,  a small startup company based in Palo Alto, California, USA. Android’s  co founders who went to  work at Google included Andy Rubin,  Rich Miner,  Nick Sears and Chris White. At the time, little was known about the functions of Android, Inc. other than that they  made   software   for  mobile   phones   This   began rumors that  Google was planning  to enter the mobile phone market.  At  Google,   the   team  led by Rubin  developed a mobile device  platform powered by the  Linux kernel which they  marketed to handset makers  and carriers on the  premise  of providing  a flexible, upgradeable system. It was reported that Google   had   already   lined   up   a   series   of   hardware component  and  software  partners  and  signaled to carriers that it was open to various degrees of  cooperation on their part.  More speculation  that  Google would be entering  the mobile­phone  market   came   in   December   2006.   Reports from  the   BBC  and   The  Wall   Street   Journal   noted   that Google wanted its search and applications on mobile phones and  it  was  working hard  to deliver   that.  Print  and online media   outlets   soon   reported   rumors   that Google   was developing   a  Google­branded  handset.    More   speculation followed  reporting  that   as  Google  was  defining   technical specifications,   it was   showing   prototypes   to   cell   phone  manufacturers and  network operators.

2) Update history

Android   has   seen   a  number   of  updates   since   its  original release.   These   updates   to   the   base   operating  system typically fix  bugs and add new features. And  generally, each update to the Android  operating system  is developed  under a code name based  on a dessert item.

• 1.5 (Cupcake) ­ April 2009

• 1.6(Donut) – September 2009

• 2.0/2.1(Eclair) – December 2009

• 2.2(Froyo) – May 2010

• Gingerbread ­ scheduled for Q4 2010 launch.

• Honeycomb­ Scheduled for 2011 launch.