[Daniel Jones]

Originally Posted by John Farrell

A Java ME implementation — Android applications are written using the Java language,
but they are not run within a Java ME (Mobile Edition) VM, and Java-compiled classes and
executables will not run natively in Android.
Part of the Linux Phone Standards Forum (LiPS) or the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) —
Android runs on an open-source Linux kernel, but, while their goals are similar, Android’s
complete software stack approach goes further than the focus of these standards-defining
organizations.
Simply an application layer (such as UIQ or S60) — Although Android does include an application
layer, “Android’’ also describes the entire software stack, encompassing the underlying
operating system, the API libraries, and the applications themselves.
A mobile phone handset — Android includes a reference design for mobile handset manufacturers,
but there is no single “Android phone.” Instead, Android has been designed to support
many alternative hardware devices.
Google’s answer to the iPhone — The iPhone is a fully proprietary hardware and software
platform released by a single company (Apple), whereas Android is an open-source
software stack produced and supported by the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) and designed
to operate on any compatible device.

Hey John
You are pretty rite about Android in above facts. But the question arises that if Android wasn't open source and it does not allow other manufacturers to use Android OS in their smartphones, like Apple does. Would they be having same number of users of Android that they currently possess?