Google’s Schmidt says Chrome and Android will remain separate

Executive Chairman of Google, Eric Schmidt said that they will keep its OSes, Android and Chrome separate. In India, he attended an IT event called Big Tent Activate Summit and said the two operating systems will remain separate and independent products, but there will be more “commonality” among them.

But Schmidt’s current statements seem to contradict his previous comments. Back in February 2011, he told delegates at the Mobile World Congress trades how that Chrome and Android would unite. He had said “We’re working overtime to get those technologies merged in the right way,” and added: “I learned a long time ago, don’t force technology to merge when it’s not ready, wait for the technology to mature to the point when it can be merged.” So basically Chrome and Android will be merged, but also won’t be rushed.

Google’s quasi-desktop OS Chrome and its mobile OS Android would be merged were rumored earlier when head of Android, Andy Rubin, was assigned with other role with Sundar Pichai, head of Chrome and apps. Pichai did not leave his existing duties rather added Android division to his Chrome and apps portfolio, implying merge of both OS.

Chrome and Android remaining independent has much the same emphasis as Schmidt’s comments from two years ago — when he said they would merge, ultimately. It’s likely Google needs to wait for the market to mesh with its mobile centric vision — so growing the Android platform and expanding its reach is one way Mountain View may have been “working overtime”.

The ultimate unification of Chrome and Android is inevitably since the differences between hardware categories are being eroded. Chrome OS was announced in mid 2009, at a time when netbooks were at its pinacle. The launch of the iPad in 2010 created the tablet category for which quickly became widely demanded and started replacing mini laptops, putting the emphasis on touch and mobile computing. And from that wearable smart devices are also on its way. So the ultimate question is not if Chrome and Android will merge rather how soon it will happen.

Apparently Android Application Development will always be a top priority and merger of both OS will bring new opportunities to the developers to build application for future OS fused devices.