Google is 'very committed' to Chrome OS, questioning Android merger rumors

Google is rumored to be planning a merger of Android and Chrome OS. An early build of the combined operating system is expected to see the light of day as early as next year, with an official release making its way in 2017. That's what a so-called "report" claims anyway.

Such a plan would certainly make sense, considering that Chrome OS has limited appeal while Android has matured nicely, becoming the most-popular mobile operating system. So, how does Google comment? Well, the search giant continues to stand by its less-popular operating system. What else do you expect?

In a tweet, Google's head of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast, Hiroshi Lockheimer says that "There’s a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very committed to Chrome OS", further adding that he's purchased two of these devices to help his kids do their homework.

What I find interesting is that Lockheimer could have flat out denied that Google is working on merging Android and Chrome OS, but instead he has chosen to offer a vague comment that fails to say anything concrete.

Every major corporation will say that it is "very committed" to each and every one of its products, until it no longer is. Google could one day end development of Chrome OS and move on to something else that is more lucrative, and, until that time comes, it might be working in parallel on an operating system that just so happens to be a merger or Android and Chrome OS.

Again, "very committed" does not mean much if there is no time-frame involved. People lose patience quickly, major corporations are no different if they see that something isn't working as well as they had hoped. Google especially drops products all the time it fits its agenda, even if it means disappointing its fans or customers.

But, in all fairness, just because a rumor suggests a major company plans to do something, and that major company does not flat out deny it, it does not mean that it will actually happen. Take Microsoft's small Surface for example: it has been rumored to launched, the software giant has indeed worked on it, but, in the end, decided against bringing it to the market.

At the end of the day, all this does is question whether those rumors might be true or not. However, I don't think this strategy will be effective enough to steer the conversation into another direction.