Biggest Indian Smartphone maker Micromax is developing their own Operating System to run on their devices like smartphones, tablets, televisions and wearable. Don’t think that Micromax is leaving the Android platform because the new OS is a forked Android. It is being developed in Bengaluru by the company’s Software team. The design team consists of 75 people acquired from Nokia R&D in Beijing and also have a second team from Shenzen is also part of this.
Earlier Micromax introduced a new brand of devices under their wholly – owned subsidiary YU and they tied up with Custom ROM maker Cyanogen for using its OS on YU branded devices. Under YU brand, they have introduced Yureka, Yuphoria, and Yureka Plus. All devices got overwhelming responses in Indian markets.
The development of the new forked Android OS is headed by Ashish Agrawal, who is the new technology head at Micromax and former Amazon executive. According to a report from Economic Times, Vikas Jain, co-founder of Micromax informed that the first smartphone running the new OS will be available to the market by the end of this financial year. He also added that the devices will be cost – effective.
Micromax is following Apple, Xiaomi and Microsoft. Xiaomi and Micromax developed their own version of Android to run on their devices. Being one of the best players in the smartphone market in India, Micromax can better understand the local market and based on the insights it will build the customer experiences.
Along with the forked OS, Micromax is developing some apps and services that will work across all devices like phones, TVs, tablets and wearables. The services and apps are also available for YU brand devices. This is an indication that Micromax is giving importance to Software also. The Indian market is flooded with smartphone brands and of course, this new OS will differentiate Micromax. A few weeks ago Xiaomi introduced MIUI 7 which is more friendly for Indian customers. As Micromax is developing a new OS for their devices, other Indian smartphone makers may also consider the same.
