Microsoft reportedly interested in buying Android custom ROM developer Cyanogen Inc

[jamezr]

Don't know what to think of this! Nokia phones with Cyanogenmod on them?

Rumor has it that Microsoft -- among many other companies -- is in talks with Cyanogen, a company which makes custom Android ROMs for a possible acquisition or to ink a partnership. According to a report by The Information, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had a sit-down with Cyanogen Inc.

For those who are unfamiliar, Cyanogen is the company behind the massively popular CyanogenMod builds that are considered as one of the most feature-rich and stable Android variations. OnePlus, among many other companies, employs CyanogenMod ROMs as the primary OS for its phones.

According to the report, Yahoo, Amazon, and Samsung Electronics are also keen on inking a deal with Cyanogen. At this time, he company is looking to raise a big “Series C” round.

However, if Microsoft does acquire Cyanogen, what is it planning to do with it? Will we have custom Windows Phone ROMs in the future, or is Microsoft planning to rekindle its Android affair?

http://www.winbeta.org/news/microsoft-reportedly-interested-buying-android-custom-rom-developer-cyanogen-inc

 

[Cnasty]

Yes please !!

 

[Lloydbm41]

I don't believe this for one second. Why?

Cyanogen is a forked version of Android and in order to use Google Apps, it has to pay the licensing fee. There is a reason GAPPS was never included in any Cyanogenmod ROM; because Google issued a cease and desist back in 2011.

Microsoft already has a forked version of Android (as does Amazon) and neither forked version has access to the core Google Apps.

What advantage does Cyanogen give Microsoft or Amazon over what they have now? Answer = not much. The only reason I can see for Microsoft or Amazon to buy Cyanogen is to hire the staff. The ROM would simply be killed off.

 

[kevinof]

I agree with all your points (except the first one). It doesn't make sense for MS to buy Cyanogen for the rom. I just don't see the synergy.

On the gapps issue - MS already receives large royalty payments from every Android device. They could simply do a loyalty offset and get gapps on their handsets.

Anyway moot point. Don't see this happening and don't see why it would.

I don't believe this for one second. Why?

Cyanogen is a forked version of Android and in order to use Google Apps, it has to pay the licensing fee. There is a reason GAPPS was never included in any Cyanogenmod ROM; because Google issued a cease and desist back in 2011.

Microsoft already has a forked version of Android (as does Amazon) and neither forked version has access to the core Google Apps.

What advantage does Cyanogen give Microsoft or Amazon over what they have now? Answer = not much. The only reason I can see for Microsoft or Amazon to buy Cyanogen is to hire the staff. The ROM would simply be killed off.

 

[Shuri]

I don't believe this for one second. Why?

Cyanogen is a forked version of Android and in order to use Google Apps, it has to pay the licensing fee. There is a reason GAPPS was never included in any Cyanogenmod ROM; because Google issued a cease and desist back in 2011.

Microsoft already has a forked version of Android (as does Amazon) and neither forked version has access to the core Google Apps.

What advantage does Cyanogen give Microsoft or Amazon over what they have now? Answer = not much. The only reason I can see for Microsoft or Amazon to buy Cyanogen is to hire the staff. The ROM would simply be killed off.

I'm also convinced this is nothing about the Android Fork. Microsoft has never shown much of an interest in using another OS kernel than their own. I don't think their effort on android is going to get any bigger than what it is now.

So I don't see why they should want to buy Cyanogen, do they have any patents or so? Couldn't Microsoft just hire the important staff away from the Inc?

 

[mrex]

Noooooooooooooo - i just bought OPO!

 

[roadbloc]

I'm very skeptical of this. Windows Phone is a great OS and has been increasing in marketshare (albeit slowly). If they keep hard at updating WP8, there is a chance they can get a solid slice of the market.

 

[iBanker]

On the gapps issue - MS already receives large royalty payments from every Android device. They could simply do a loyalty offset and get gapps on their handsets.

MS collects royalties from hardware vendors, Gapps is provided by Google and not the hardware vendors.

 

[Dreday24]

a nokia phone with cyanogen mod would be the sex.

 

[Cnasty]

a nokia phone with cyanogen mod would be the sex.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[three]

This better not happen. If it does, I hope that Microsoft doesn't have them stop developing ROMs for the many many many supported devices.

 

[maflynn]

Wow, that is news. I can see samsung or others inking a partnership, but I'm not really understanding the logic with MS possibly acquiring the company. What would be the value for MS no such a deal?

 

[Wiesenlooser]

I don't believe this for one second. Why?

Cyanogen is a forked version of Android and in order to use Google Apps, it has to pay the licensing fee. There is a reason GAPPS was never included in any Cyanogenmod ROM; because Google issued a cease and desist back in 2011.

Microsoft already has a forked version of Android (as does Amazon) and neither forked version has access to the core Google Apps.

What advantage does Cyanogen give Microsoft or Amazon over what they have now? Answer = not much. The only reason I can see for Microsoft or Amazon to buy Cyanogen is to hire the staff. The ROM would simply be killed off.

There you go.

 

[jamezr]

Wow, that is news. I can see samsung or others inking a partnership, but I'm not really understanding the logic with MS possibly acquiring the company. What would be the value for MS no such a deal?

Agreed......
If they released Nokia phones with WP8 and Cyanogenmod side by side. They run the risk of killing their own OS. They might just buy CM then use the existing staff to make changes to WP8. Who knows.....