Cyanogen, the company tasked with commercialising the custom CyanogenMod Android-based OS, rejected an approach from Google, it's been revealed.
The Information reports on Cyanogen CEO Kirt McMaster's comments to shareholders, in which he apparently revealed that he had been approached by Google's SVP of Android, Sundar Pichai.
Pichai was apparently interested in acquiring the company, but McMaster rejected his overtures. Instead, McMaster is concentrating on gaining a $1 billion valuation as his company bids for a third round of funding.
Cyanogen's goal with CyanogenMod is to make it the third most popular mobile platform out there, behind iOS and Android itself. Interesting, given the platform's Android foundation, but that's the nature of open source operating systems like Android.
To that end, Cyanogen has followed up its deal with OnePlus to supply the OS for the OnePlus One (and presumably the OnePlus 2) with a deal to have Indian manufacturer Micromax build CyanogenMod-based phones. If it can take a slice of the burgeoning Indian market, then Cyanogen's value will inevitably soar.
CyanogenMod essentially behaves like a more open and even more customisable version of Android, allowing the user to tweak a finer array of settings. It's also possible to apply custom skins to the OS.
The report sounds a cautionary note, however, pointing out that Cyanogen needs to rein in its modification work to ensure that it meets Google's compatibility requirements, lest it be cut off from the life source that is the Google Play Store for apps.
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Via: Droid-life