Google to combine Chrome and Android; new OS in 2017: Report

Google is planning to merge its Chrome operating system used in Chromebooks and its Android OS used in mobile phones, according to a media report.

A logo is pictured at Google's European Engineering Center. REUTERS

Google is planning to merge its Chrome operating system used in Chromebooks and its Android OS used in mobile phones, according to a media report.

The firm's engineers have been working in the project for close to two years and the combined OS will be available for upgrade sometime in 2017, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Quoting Google insiders, WSJ said the move is planned at coping with the growing dominance of mobile computing.

But this doesn't mean Chrome and Android will cease to exist as separate entities after the merger. A Google spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that Chrome OS and Android will continue to exist and Chrome OS is not being "killed".

Soon after the report in the WSJ, Google's new senior vice president for Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast, Hiroshi Lockheimer, said the company is still "very committed" to Chrome OS as there is a "ton of momentum for Chromebooks".

There's a ton of momentum for Chromebooks and we are very committed to Chrome OS. I just bought two for my kids for schoolwork!

— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) October 30, 2015

According to several media reports, Google's move will prove beneficial for Android and Chrome OS. While Android is seen as a weak operating system when it comes to large screen devices, Chrome OS currently runs only on Google's Chromebooks.

If the move goes according to plan, Android will function better in large screen systems as it will use Chrome OS' thin client applications instead of going for a separate re-design. Currently, many Android apps that work perfectly on mobiles appear "blown up" to fit larger screens.

Chrome OS can use the power of numerous Android applications and become suitable for other devices.