1page.title=Android Compatibility
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20<p>Android's purpose is to establish an open platform for developers to build innovative apps.
21The Android Compatibility program defines the technical details of the Android platform and provides
22tools used by OEMs to ensure that developers' apps run on a variety of devices. The Android SDK
23provides built-in tools that developers use to clearly state the device features their apps
24require. And Google Play shows apps only to those devices that can properly run them.
25</p>
26
27<h2 id="why-build-compatible-android-devices">Why build compatible Android devices?</h2>
28<h3 id="users-want-a-customizable-device">Users want a customizable device.</h3>
29<p>A mobile phone is a highly personal, always-on, always-present gateway to
30the Internet. We haven't met a user yet who didn't want to customize it by
31extending its functionality. That's why Android was designed as a robust
32platform for running aftermarket applications.</p>
33<h3 id="developers-outnumber-us-all">Developers outnumber us all.</h3>
34<p>No device manufacturer can hope to write all the software that a person could
35conceivably need. We need third-party developers to write the apps users want;
36so the Android Open Source Project aims to make it as easy and open as
37possible for developers to build apps.</p>
38<h3 id="everyone-needs-a-common-ecosystem">Everyone needs a common ecosystem.</h3>
39<p>Every line of code developers write to work around a particular phone's bug
40is a line of code that didn't add a new feature. The more compatible phones
41there are, the more apps there will be. By building a fully compatible Android
42device, you benefit from the huge pool of apps written for Android, while
43increasing the incentive for developers to build more of those apps.</p>
44<h2 id="android-compatibility-is-free-and-its-easy">Android compatibility is free, and it's easy.</h2>
45<p>If you are building a mobile device, you can follow these steps to make
46sure your device is compatible with Android. For more details about the
47Android compatibility program in general, see <a href="overview.html">the program overview</a>.</p>
48<p>Building a compatible device is a three-step process:</p>
49<ol>
50<li>
51<p><em>Obtain the <a href="{@docRoot}source/index.html">Android software source
52code</a></em>.
53    This is the source code for the Android platform that you port to your hardware.</p>
54</li>
55<li>
56<p><em>Comply with the <a href="{@docRoot}compatibility/android-cdd.pdf">Android
57Compatibility Definition Document (CDD)</a></em>.
58    The CDD enumerates the software and hardware requirements of a compatible Android device.</p>
59</li>
60<li>
61<p><em>Pass the <a href="{@docRoot}compatibility/cts-intro.html">Compatibility
62Test Suite (CTS)</a></em>.
63    Use the CTS as an ongoing aid to compatibility during the development process.</p>
64</li>
65</ol>
66
67<p>After complying with the CDD and passing the CTS, your device is now Android
68compatible. Android apps in the ecosystem will have a consistent experience on
69your device.</p>
70
71<h2 id="licensing-gms">Licensing Google Mobile Services</h2>
72<p>If you've built an Android compatible device, you may wish to inquire about
73licensing Google’s proprietary suite of apps that run on top of Android -
74Google Mobile Services (GMS, which include Google Play, YouTube, Google Maps,
75Gmail, and more). Google Mobile Services is not part of the Android Open Source
76Project and is available only through a license with Google. Please visit the
77‘contact’ us section for more information on how to inquire about a GMS
78license.</p>
79