Android is an open-source software platform and operating system for mobile devices based on the Linux kernel. It was developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance. Android allows developers to write managed code in Java and includes features like hardware integration, an application framework, and core applications. The Open Handset Alliance is devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices to significantly lower development costs. Android can be adapted to work on various hardware configurations and uses Linux for drivers, memory management, and more.