Cyanogen working to become self-reliant, ‘take Android away from Google’

Cyanogen Inc, the software company that makes heavily customized version of Android is planning to part its way from Google. At an event hosted by The Information, the software maker said that in next few years, it wants to significantly reduce its reliance on Google, and also, “take Android away from Google.”

The company plans to make a custom version of Android which would give developers ability to integrate their apps and services with the core operating system. Google’s Android already offers a lot of customization features; however, integration with core applications is still limited. Cyanogen wants access to those layers, and then offer partners “tier one services.”

For instance, Google Now and Google Search interact with the OS in a way third-party apps are not allowed to. Kirt McMaster, CEO of Cyanogen Inc, said that these deep integrations can help a lot of other developers. He gave Yahoo’s Aviate launcher as an example.

Speaking of his company’s future, McMaster said that Cyanogen will “not be based on some derivative of Google in three to five years.” He further noted that Cyanogen will have its own store in collaboration with partners in lieu of solely relying on Google Play Services and Play Store. He expects the store to go live in within next 18 months.

At this point it is not clear if Cyanogen will completely stop offering Google Mobile Services (GMS) in its future builds. If that happens, it might upset a lot of users who use Google services. Several companies including Amazon and Nokia use forked version of Android on their devices. While Amazon’s Kindle devices have been selling fairly, its Fire Phone handset was a massive failure.

Google isn’t the only company Cyanogen is miffed with. The software maker is in between the Micromax-OnePlus battle, and in a recent interview, CyanogenMod’s founder Steve Kondik said that they are currently “stuck in the middle of a fight between OnePlus and Micromax because they are supplying the OS to both companies.”

SOURCE:-BGRindia