Google Exec In Charge Of Android Development Steps Down

Page, in a blog post, disclosed that Andy Rubin has "decided it's time to hand over the reins and start a new chapter at Google."

"Andy, more moonshots please!" Page wrote, without saying more about Rubin's future role at Google.

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Page has named Sundar Pichai, who has overseen the development of the company's Chrome browser, Chrome operating system and Google Apps software, to lead Android development efforts.

Pichai, a 9-year Google veteran, will continue to be responsible for Chrome and Google Apps, Page said.

Page noted that Android is the world's most popular mobile operating system, running on more than 750 million smartphones and tablet computers and supporting 25 billion applications downloaded from Google Play. "Pretty extraordinary progress for a decade's work," Page wrote, noting that Android's success "exceeded even the crazy, ambitious goals we dreamed of for Android."

Rubin co-founded Android in 2003 and came to Google in 2005 when the search engine giant acquired Android for $50 million.

"Sundar has a talent for creating products that are technically excellent, yet easy to use -- and he loves a big bet," Page said of Rubin's Pichai.

"Take Chrome, for example. In 2008, people asked whether the world really needed another browser. Today Chrome has hundreds of millions of happy users and is growing fast thanks to its speed, simplicity and security. So while Andy’s a really hard act to follow, I know Sundar will do a tremendous job doubling down on Android as we work to push the ecosystem forward," Page wrote.

PUBLISHED MARCH 13, 2013