Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications.

Android was developed and released by Google and members from the Open Handset Alliance. The operating system is based on the Linux kernel and consists of open-source software stacks of Java applications running on a Java-based, object-oriented application framework on top of Java core libraries running on a Dalvik virtual machine featuring JIT compilation.
Android is the world's best selling smartphone platform.

Developers can build applications which run on android and publish them in the Android Market. The Android Market comes pre-installed on almost all android devices. Users can browse and download 'apps' onto their mobile devices. As of December 2010, the app store consisted of about 200,000 games, applications, widgets and live wallpapers.

Despite the global recession in 2009, the world Smartphone industry grew by 16%, far outpacing the broader mobile phone industry. Competition between market leaders such as RIM, Apple, Nokia and Google is fierce and they are showing strong commitment and investment to the Smartphone industry. With this, development of applications for different operating systems has become widespread and common in our daily lives.