Google SVP: Chrome OS Is 'Here To Stay'

Google has no plans to "phase out" its laptop-based operating system, Chrome OS, according to Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google senior vice president for Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast.

The clarification Monday from the Mountain View, Calif., company executive was a response to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal that the company will package its laptop-targeted Chrome OS into its mobile-focused Android operating system.

"Over the last few days, there’s been some confusion about the future of Chrome OS and Chromebooks based on speculation that Chrome OS will be folded into Android," Lockheimer wrote in a blog post. "While we’ve been working on ways to bring together the best of both operating systems, there's no plan to phase out Chrome OS."

[Related: Google Reportedly Will Fold Chrome Into Android Operating System]

The Wall Street Journal report stated that Google will show off a new operating system in 2017 that will run on PCs in addition to smartphones. It also referred to sources who said that Chromebooks will get a new, undetermined name.

David Hoff, chief technology officer at Cloud Sherpas, said the fact that Google is working on ways to bring together the best of both operating systems is good for Google Chrome partners. Cloud Sherpas, an Atlanta-based solution provider that recently said it will be acquired by systems integrator Accenture, sells Chromebooks and deploys Google Chrome For Work to enterprise customers.

"From an enterprise perspective, this is a long-term strategy to reduce complexity," said Hoff. "In the past 12 to 18 months, we've seen an uptick in enterprise acceptance and adoption of Chrome, specifically Chromebooks. Google's continually investing in Chrome, and this move will help connectivity and applications on the OS."

Both Chrome OS and Android are based on Linux. Android, targeted at smartphones, touts better application support while Chrome, targeted at laptops and PCs, is more secure, as no credible breaches into the OS have been discovered.

Over the past six months, Google has invested in Chrome OS, and enterprise customers are noticing the difference, said Hoff.

In the past year alone, Google has worked to redefine the different forms Chrome OS can take, introduced the first designated Chromebook for Work and brought more Android apps to Chromebook, according to Lockheimer's blog post. Lockheimer added that customers should "stay on the lookout" for dozens of new Chromebooks in the coming year.

There’s a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very committed to Chrome OS. I just bought two for my kids for schoolwork!

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According to a forecast released by market research firm IDC, smartphones running on Android are expected to take up 81.1 percent of the smartphone market in 2015.

PUBLISHED NOV. 2, 2015