Android is an open-source operating system based on the Linux kernel. It was developed by the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of technology companies including Google. Some key features of Android include an application framework for building reusable apps, the Dalvik virtual machine for running apps, and integrated core apps like a browser and SQLite for data storage. Future possibilities for Android include overtaking iPhone sales by 2012 and expanding beyond mobile devices to products like GPS units and set-top boxes.