Andy Rubin was one of the creators of Android and has been working at Google for quite some time now. He had at one point stopped working on Android and left to work in Google X where it seems that his interest was in building robots. However it looks like that has changed as The Wall Street Journal (via The Verge) is reporting that Rubin has left the company.
According to the report, Rubin will be leaving Google completely and will be creating his own startup company in which he will be helping new hardware-based companies get off the ground. No doubt this loss to Google will not be a small one. Google’s CEO Larry Page has commented on Rubin’s departure, saying, “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.”
Rubin had come on board Google when the company acquired Android back in 2005. With Rubin’s help, Google managed to turn Android in the world’s largest mobile operating system that many have come to know and love today. Prior to Rubin’s stint at Android, he was also working at Danger Inc., the company known for creating the Sidekick mobile phone that was extremely popular back in the day.
As it stands, Sundar Pichai is now the head of Android and in a recent promotion, has also been put in charge of all of Google’s major consumer products, such as Maps, Search, Google+, ads, and so on. That being said, we wish Andy Rubin all the best in his future endeavors!