Google Chrome... Operating System
Google aims for a OS targeting netbooks
After successfully competing on several fronts with Microsoft Corp. Google threatens the Redmond giant's core business for PC operating system.
On Tuesday Google officially said it would launch a new operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks.
The name of the OS is Google Chrome Operating System. The new software will be in netbooks for consumers in the second half of 2010, Google said in a blog post, adding that they were working with multiple manufacturers.
Netbooks are primarily designed for web browsing and e-mailing, they rely heavily on the Internet for remote access to web-based applications and are targeted increasingly at cloud computing users who require a less powerful client computer.
"It's been part of their [Google's] culture to go after and remove Microsoft as a major holder of technology, and this is part of their strategy to do it," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at Enderle Group. "This could be very disruptive. If they can execute, Microsoft is vulnerable to an attack like this, and they know it," he said.
Key to success will be whether Google can lock in partnerships with major PC makers, such as Hewlett-Packard Co and Dell Inc, which currently offer Microsoft Windows on most of their products.
HP, the world's largest PC brand, declined to confirm if it would sell PCs running on the new operating system.
"We are looking into it," said HP spokeswoman Marlene Somsak, referring to the operating system. "We want to understand all the different operating systems available to customers, and will assess the impact of Chrome on the computer and communications industry."
Google did not say how much it would charge for the operating system
(OS), but Enderle expects Google to charge at most a nominal fee or
make it free, saying the company's business model has been to earn
revenue from connecting applications or advertising.
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