Rumored Android, Chrome merger paves way for improved OS

Google has been working to combine its Android and Chrome operating systems for two years, according to the Wall Street Journal. What this means for the platforms is somehow ambiguous, but it appears to be a move to make Android perform better on the laptop form factor, bringing Google Play and its slew of apps to users looking for more productivity on the mobile OS.

The Journal story reports, "Chrome will remain as an open-source OS that other companies can use to make laptops, and Google engineers will continue maintaining it." The SVP of Chrome OS, Android and Chromecast later said the company remains committed to the OS. This makes it unclear what exactly Google has in store for this OS "merger," but if the company is able to port the best features of Chrome OS, it could result in a faster and more nimble Android. This would be good news for laptop manufacturers.

Chromebooks currently account for only 3 percent of PC sales, according to figures from IDC. The browser-based OS has had success in the US education market and among selected consumers, but Android, with its app ecosystem, is a more capable system. Both are open source and free for manufacturers to use. If Android becomes more usable on laptops, it could open up a new consumer base for computer manufacturers. Microsoft has been pushing a unified Windows OS vision for mobile and desktops/laptops, but the company charges a licensing fee per computer. Linux has long been an alternative available for free, but average consumers have balked at the system's complexity. Android is already widely used and would therefore be the first competitor in such a position, with its extensive developer and consumer base, as well as availability to any manufacturer. Apple's iOS and OS X are very popular, of course, but aren't available to other hardware makers.

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