Cyanogen Inc is working on a new alternative version of Android, the new version of the mobile OS would be much less dependent on Google, and now it would appear that Microsoft may be investing in the company.
According to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, Cyanogen Inc is currently raising another $70 million in funding, and Microsoft will be a minority investor in the latest funding round.
Microsoft already has its own mobile OS in the form of Windows Phone, although Google’s Android is the dominant mobile OS at the moment, so Microsoft could be using the investment as an attempt to weaken Google’s dominance in the mobile market.
Google’s version of Android has come under criticism by manufacturers as they have to install Google apps like the Google Play Store, YouTube and also Google Search as the default search provider.
A new version of Android from Cyanogen Inc would allow manufacturers to install whatever apps they want on their devices and not have to install apps from Google by default. Both Microsoft and Cyanogen Inc have declined to comment on a possible investment.
It will be interesting to see what Cyanogen version of Android is like, their CyanogenMod ROM is already very popular.
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