Google’s Sundar Pichai announced at the Google IO keynote event about the tech giant tying up with three Indian smartphone manufacturers to produce Android One, a budget Android smartphone for the masses. The project targeted handsets priced at $100 (approx Rs 6,000) and the launch of the Android One handsets took place last month.
However, a recent news report stated that Micromax, one of the three smartphone partners for Android One, will leave back Google’s Android operating system to carry CyanogenMod’s custom Android operating system. The report also stated that Sundar Pichai, Head of Google Android, offered to buy CyanogenMod for a whopping $1 billion, but the latter refused the deal.
CyanogenMod is allegedly working with Micromax India to supply their CM operating system for the future budget smartphones. If true, it could be the end of the Android One era sooner than it began.
Now, XDA forums, the well-known place for Android tinkerers and custom ROM developers, has just revealed that CyanogenMod has managed to crack the Android One bootloader and install their own CM operating system. Though the CM OS is presently still in beta or development stage, it is a matter of time when the entire Android One hardware will fall prey to the new operating system.
varun.chitre15, a developer on the XDA forums was the man who managed to get through the Android One handset and install the CM operating system. A majority of the functions are working with the present mod, but the dual function SIM and internet related stuff are still on the roadmap.
This could seem like good news for Android One users since they can hack into the system and replace Google’s Android KitKat with CyanogenMod’s custom ROM for additional functionality. Android tinkerers can opt for CM ROMs from the XDA forums.
If this deal between CyanognMod and Micromax works well, then Karbonn and Spice could follow suite soon.
