Google’s Android
Android is an open-source OS from Google that offers a lot more freedom to its manufacturing partners and its users. As a result, Android is now the most used smartphone operating system in the world.
You'll see the Google Android Operating system available on phones from Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG and many more.
Updates to the Android OS usually take months to reach devices, if they ever come at all.
This is because each device has different hardware, a different manufacturer-designed UI and is usually on a different network carrier. Not only does Google have to design the update in a way that will work on as many devices as possible, each manufacturer then has to make it work with their own devices. Telcos then need to test these updates to be sure they operate well on their networks.
This process takes a much longer time than the more tightly controlled ecosystems of iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry.
Like the Apple App Store, the Google Play store is an Android users one-stop shop for all the apps, movies, music, books and magazines they could ever want. Simply store your credit card details securely with Google, and you will be able to buy anything from this vast catalogue of content. And, if you don’t like what you’ve bought, Google offers a 15-minute refund window for returns.