WSJ: By 2017, Google will make Chrome OS part of Android

According to a report published today by the Wall Street Journal, Google plans on having Android swallow up its operating system for PCs, Chrome OS. The single operating system that results from the combination of Android and Chrome OS won't be released until 2017. However, today's report says that an early version of the combined platform will be shown off sometime next year.

Google has been already working on the project for a couple of years. Since the OS will also run on PCs, it will give desktop users the opportunity to install apps from the Google Play Store. Those familiar with Google's intentions, say that the Alphabet subsidiary wants to get its revenue producing apps like Google Search and YouTube on to as many different devices as possible.

Google's Chrome browser will keep its name, but the Chromebooks line will receive a new one. Google actually tipped off that the end of Chrome was in the works when it released an Android powered tablet last month called the Pixel C. Previous Pixel branded devices were powered by Chrome. In addition, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said during a conference call last week that "mobile as a computing paradigm is eventually going to blend with what we think of as desktop today." Back in 2009, Pichai was at the forefront of Chrome's development.

Combining Chrome and Android will not be a snap, according to some sources. Both can trace their roots to Linux, but after that both Chrome and Android are quite different.
 
source: WSJ