Most Android devices ship with additional proprietary software pre-installed, most notably Google Mobile Services (GMS) which includes core apps such as Google Chrome, the digital distribution platform Google Play, and associated Google Play Services development platform. When Android is installed on devices, ability to modify the otherwise FOSS software is usually restricted, either by not providing the corresponding source code or preventing reinstallation through technical measures, rendering the installed version proprietary.

The core components are taken from the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which is free and open-source software (FOSS) primarily licensed under the Apache License. Most versions of Android are proprietary. It was unveiled in November 2007, with the first commercial Android device, the HTC Dream, being launched in September 2008. Android is developed by a consortium of developers known as the Open Handset Alliance and commercially sponsored by Google. GNU GPL v2 for the Linux kernel modificationsĪndroid is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.Apache License 2.0 for userspace software.

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