Shuffle in positions may signal more Android/Chrome consolidation

Sources within Google indicate some top level executives have shifted around and the changes may be another sign that the company is moving closer to a merger of its two operating systems. Hiroshi Lockheimer, who is the vp of engineering for the Android operating system, has had the engineering team assigned to the Chrome operating system placed under him. Linus Upson was the top engineer for Chrome and it is unclear what he will be doing moving forward.

Starting in 2013, both the Android team and the Chrome team have reported to Sundar Pichai, a senior vice president with Google. The move to place them both under the purview of one senior vp was consistent with Sergey Brin’s statements from as far back as 2009 that the two branches were likely to “converge.”

At Google I/O this year, the company announced plans to make it possible to run Android apps on Chrome OS powered devices. Just last month the first batch of apps able to do this were announced.

Although Chrome powered devices have found a popular market with schools, they still struggle to compete in the larger personal computer market. Meanwhile, Android dominates the smartphone market, powering 85% of all devices shipped during the second quarter of 2014. Google also has efforts underway with Android Wear and Android Auto to put variations of the Android operating system on  other form factors.

Some have suggested that Pichai’s move signals Android will be the base for the future as Google hopes to capitalize on an easy path for developers to create apps capable of running on several types of devices. Neither Lockheimer nor Upson have released statements regarding the moves.

source: Wall Street Journal

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