Andy Rubin, co-founder of the Android project (the most popular mobile operating system in the world) has announced he will be leaving Google after nine years at the company.
Google said that Rubin created “something truly remarkable” in Android.
Andy Rubin is reportedly set to create an incubator for start-up hardware firms after he leaves the company.
An incubator or incubator firm is a company that helps startups through their developmental stage.
Google’s chief executive and co-founder Larry Page, said:
“I want to wish Andy all the best with what’s next. With Android he created something truly remarkable – with a billion plus happy users. Thank you,”
In March 2013 Rubin stepped down from the internet giant’s Android division and focused on the company’s robotics project.
He was involved in the acquisition of several robotics companies within a six month period as part of a plan to develop a drone delivery system that could compete with Amazon.
Eric Schmidt and Andy Rubin at a Google conference.
The robotics division will now be led by James Kuffner.
Sunder Pichai, who has worked with Google Chrome and Apps, became in charge of Android when Rubin left.
The mobile operating system that Rubin founded is used in Google’s smartphones and tablets. Google acquired Android in 2005.
The operating system was introduced in 2007 to compete with the iPhone.
There are now more than one billion active Android users.
Mr Rubin’s departure from Google comes at a time when Twitter is demoting its head of product, Daniel Graf, the former director of Google’s Mobile Apps.
Kevin Weil will be Twitter’s new head of product. This is the second time that Twitter has changed its head of product since its IPO.