How Android Changed the World: History and Impact

By Michael AustinEditor-in-Chief

Updated Oct 14, 2026Published Feb 16, 20168 min read

Note (October 2026): This article has been updated. The current Android version is Android 17, not Marshmallow, and the earlier tip about getting paid games free from APK sites has been replaced because that is piracy and a malware risk.

Android changed the world by making smartphones affordable and open to any manufacturer. Launched by Google with the HTC Dream in 2008, Android ran on about 69% of mobile devices worldwide in September 2026, according to StatCounter. It created a global app economy through Google Play and pushed rivals such as Nokia and BlackBerry to adopt it.

Currently Android is the most widely used mobile operating system in the world: according to StatCounter, Android ran on about 69% of mobile devices worldwide in September 2026, against roughly 31% for Apple’s iOS. Several factors explain that success. Before looking at those factors, it helps to remember how hard it once was to find good games and applications on a phone before Android arrived. Nokia phones were once the default choice for many buyers; today most smartphones in use worldwide run Android. Manufacturers including Samsung, Sony, LG, Motorola, HTC, Micromax, Karbonn and even the Nokia brand have released Android phones; Nokia-branded Android phones arrived in 2017 through HMD Global, starting with the Nokia 6.

How Android Changed the Mobile Operating System World

Microsoft’s Windows Phone never came close to Android’s reach, and two former market leaders show why. In 2011 Nokia halted its own MeeGo project and partnered with Microsoft on Windows Phone, while BlackBerry stayed with its in-house BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10. Both companies lost ground: Nokia sold its mobile phone business to Microsoft in 2014, and BlackBerry released its first Android phone, the Priv, in November 2015. Their experience suggests that, apart from Apple with iOS, phone makers that stayed away from Android found it very hard to win buyers.

Google bought Android Inc. in July 2005 and unveiled Android with the Open Handset Alliance on November 5, 2007; the first commercially available Android phone, the HTC Dream (sold as the T-Mobile G1), was announced on September 23, 2008. Since then, Android has changed the way people use mobile phones. Android, alongside Apple’s iPhone, helped turn the basic mobile phone into the touchscreen smartphone most people carry today. The sections below explain how Android won over billions of users.

1. Easy to Operate :

Before Android, many buyers used Symbian-based Nokia phones; the controls were simple, but finding games and applications was not. Android added flexible touch controls and, most importantly, a central app store, now called Google Play. The Android interface is also highly adaptable. Home screens, widgets and shortcuts can be arranged to suit each user. Customization is in your hands.

2. Unlimited Games & Apps :

Games and entertainment apps are among the main reasons people use smartphones. Google Play offers a very large catalog of free and paid games and apps; Wikipedia reports more than three million apps on the store as of January 2021, the latest count it cites. Modern Combat 5, for example, is a well-known paid action game; downloading paid games like it free from unofficial APK sites is piracy, breaks the developer’s terms and is a common way for malware to reach phones. The safer route is to install apps from Google Play and keep Google Play Protect, Android’s built-in malware defense, switched on; Google says Play Protect automatically scans the apps on Android phones every day. Many good games are free to download.

3. Unlimited Customization :

One of Android’s biggest strengths is its huge range of everyday apps. A modern Android phone handles many tasks that once needed a laptop. Apps like skype, Google Hangout, Pics Art, WhatsApp changed how people communicate, edit and share photos, and keep in touch. Weather, exam results, sports scores and news are now a few taps away, largely thanks to app stores such as Google Play.

4. Cheaper & Effective :

Because the core of Android is open source (the Android Open Source Project userspace is licensed under the Apache License 2.0), many manufacturers could build phones on it, including Nokia, Sony, LG, HTC, Micromax, Xolo and Karbonn, which increased competition. As a result, buyers in India could find a basic Android smartphone for around 3,000 rupees when this article was first published in 2016. That would have been hard to imagine a few years earlier. Affordable Android phones also gave a boost to Indian phone brands. For examples, see the list of Micromax and Xolo Phones.

5. Developers Platform :

Android is a large platform for developers who create games, apps and themes. App development has become a major business; publishing on Google Play requires a one-time US$25 developer registration fee, according to Google’s Play Console Help. That low barrier to entry means individuals, not just companies, can publish apps. Many training courses teach the essentials of Android app development. Game developers such as Gameloft, EA Sports and Killo have reached very large mobile audiences through the platform Google provides.

6. Source of Income :

People with technical skills and a good understanding of Android apps can earn money from them. The basic idea is simple, even if doing it well takes work. Build a useful Android app and then apply for adsense programme to learn how Google ad programmes work; for ads inside mobile apps, Google’s dedicated platform is AdMob, which helps developers earn revenue with in-app ads. Income is not guaranteed and most beginners earn little at first, so treat app development as a skill to build over time.

Google has kept improving Android with a new major version roughly every year: Android 16 was released on June 10, 2025, and Android 17 on June 16, 2026. Android 6.0 Marshmallow, released on September 29, 2015, was the latest version when this article was first written; as of October 2026 the current version is Android 17. 🙂

Android History: Key Milestones

Android’s rise from a small startup to the world’s most used mobile operating system took less than a decade. The dates below come from Wikipedia’s Android and Android version history articles.

How Big Is Android Today?

Android is the leading mobile operating system by a wide margin. According to StatCounter, Android held 69.17% of worldwide mobile operating system market share in September 2026, while Apple’s iOS held 30.81%. Wikipedia describes Android as having over three billion monthly active users and calls it the most used smartphone operating system worldwide since 2011.

How Android Changed the World: Five Big Effects

1. Smartphones became affordable

Android is free for manufacturers to use and adapt, because the core Android Open Source Project is released under the Apache License 2.0. That openness let many companies build phones at every price point, from flagship models to entry-level handsets, and brought smartphones within reach of buyers who could not afford a premium phone.

2. The app economy opened up

Google Play gave developers a single store with a global audience. The one-time US$25 registration fee is low enough for students and small studios, and Wikipedia reports more than three million apps on Google Play as of January 2021. Learn more in our guide to the steps involved in developing Android apps.

3. Phone makers had to adapt

Companies that bet on other platforms lost ground. Nokia partnered with Microsoft on Windows Phone in 2011 and sold its phone business to Microsoft in 2014; Nokia-branded phones returned on Android through HMD Global in 2017. BlackBerry moved to Android with the Priv in 2015.

4. Customization became normal

Android lets users change launchers, widgets, default apps and themes, and lets manufacturers add their own interfaces on top of the open-source core.

5. Mobile security became a mass-market issue

With billions of users, Android is a major target for malware. Google Play Protect, Android’s built-in malware defense, automatically scans the apps on Android phones every day. For practical steps, see our smartphone safety and privacy tips.

Android vs iOS at a Glance

For a developer’s view of the two platforms, read Android vs Apple: which market your app should target, and for tablets, see reasons to choose an Android tablet over an iPad.

Why You Should Avoid Pirated APKs

An APK is the file format Android uses to install apps. Downloading paid apps free from unofficial APK sites is piracy, and those files can be modified to include malware or spyware. The safer approach is simple:

• Install apps from Google Play or the official store of a trusted manufacturer.
• Keep Google Play Protect turned on.
• Check app permissions and reviews before installing.
• Look for the free or trial versions many developers offer.

If you want to build apps yourself, our guide to developing an Android app with Kotlin is a good starting point.

Written byMichael AustinEditor-in-Chief

Michael Austin is the Editor-in-Chief of Justwebworld and manages the platform’s editorial direction, content strategy, and digital publishing operations. With a strong interest in online media and modern publishing, he focuses on creating informative, engaging, and easy-to-understand content across multiple categories. Under his leadership, Justwebworld continues to grow as a trusted multi-niche digital publication covering technology, business, lifestyle, automotive, sports, travel, and trending internet topics for readers worldwide.

More from Michael Austin →

Justwebworld has published guides since 2012. How we write and update articles · Report an error