2005: Google acquires Android, preps for mobile wars
- Andy Rubin, senior vice president of mobile at Google. (Joi photo via Flickr.)
In the fall of 2005, Google’s Android acquisition starts to set the stage for a major push into mobile technologies by the search giant — ultimately positioning the company as a leader in the mobile world. Joining the company with the deal is Andy Rubin, who had co-founded Android after leaving Google.
“Rubin & Co. have sparingly described the outfit as making software for mobile phones, providing little more detail than that,” reports BusinessWeek at the time. “One source familiar with the company says Android had at one point been working on a software operating system for cell phones.”
Hershenson and Britt would later join Google, as well.
Next: Microsoft acquires Danger
- The Beginning: Danger is formed by three Apple veterans
- Spring 2001: Danger’s mysterious plans start to draw attention
- September 2001: Danger unveils the Hiptop
- December 2001: Woz is on board
- October 2002: Hiptop debuts on T-Mobile as the Sidekick
- Fall 2004: Celebrities embrace a new Sidekick
- February 2005: Paris Hilton is hacked
- Fall 2005: Google acquires Android, sets stage for mobile push
- February 2008: Microsoft acquires Danger
- October 2008: Danger server meltdown melts the Sidekick
- April 2010: Microsoft launches the Kin, briefly
- February 2011: End of the Sidekick’s Danger era
- March 2011: Sidekick goes Android
