Internet giant Google is now planning to take over the Internet of Things (IoT). For that purpose, the search titan is reportedly developing an operating system called Brillo, says a report from The Information. Though the OS is called Brillo internally, it may be launched under an Android name.
Benefits of having same OS for all devices
Brillo, which is apparently a lighter version of Google’s mobile OS Android, will work for devices with 32 or 64MB of RAM, according to the report. It is expected that the firm will unveil the new OS at its Google I/O conference next week, according to a report from Fortune. As of now, there is no information from Google on Brillo.
Having a single OS for multiple smart devices could come in very handy for device manufacturers as it will do away with compatibility issues between various smart-device brands. It will also help consumers to shop more confidently knowing that, for instance, their Brillo-powered smart toaster will connect well with other Brillo appliances that they have.
Similar to Android, Brillo could be a big boost for Google. Manufacturers may compete with each other over price, design and hardware, but all will be powered by the same OS, which in this case will be Brillo.
Will Google beat the competition?
The Internet of Things is a growing segment with many tech firms working on technologies to connect various devices into the internet with the use of sensors. According to research firm Gartner, the number of networked devices is expected to swell from around 900 million in 2009 to 26 billion units by 2020, and the market will be worth $3.04 trillion
A few days back, at a conference in China, Huawei unveiled LiteOS, which is designed to provide an infrastructure companies “need to build out connectivity in their devices.” Separately, a few weeks back, Samsung launched the Artik line of hardware, which will help to connect wearables and other smart devices with the Korean firm’s hardware and open software.Microsoft is also working to come out with a Windows 10 IoT Core, a version of Windows 10 that will connect ATMs, ultrasound machines and wearables.
As in any other segment, Google will be facing competition, but with the tech titan’s expertise and brand name, the competition may not mean much in the long run.
