JioPhone OS provider KaiOS gets $22 million funding from Google
KaiOS has tie-ups with OEMs such as TCL, HMD Global and Micromax for mobile devices and carriers like Reliance Jio, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile.
NEW 
DELHI: Internet and technology-giant Google is investing $22 million in KaiOS, an operating system for smart feature phones. The deal will allow KaiOS to integrate Google services including search, maps, YouTube and voice assistant into its operating system.
Early this year, KaiOS-powered Nokia phones had gotten a suite of Google apps. India’s popular smart-feature phone ‘JioPhone’ also runs on KaiOS which has helped popularize and grow the operating system in the country.
KaiOS has tie-ups with OEMs such as TCL, HMD Global and Micromax for mobile devices and carriers like Reliance Jio, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. Reliance Industries in March had bought a 16% stake in KaiOS for $7 million cash.
“We want to ensure that Google apps and services are available to everyone, whether they are using desktops, smartphones, or feature phones,” said Anjali Joshi, Vice-President, Product Management, Next Billion Users at Google.
“This funding will help us fast-track development and global deployment of KaiOS-enabled smart feature phones, allowing us to connect the vast population that still cannot access the internet, especially in emerging markets,” said Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies, in a statement.
According to Counterpoint, further adoption of 4G feature phone will depend upon possible introduction of new apps e.g. Facebook, Google Assitant, maps, search and digital payments. Google’s apps on KaiOS would play a key role in driving adoption for the operating system and 4G feature phones.
DELHI: Internet and technology-giant Google is investing $22 million in KaiOS, an operating system for smart feature phones. The deal will allow KaiOS to integrate Google services including search, maps, YouTube and voice assistant into its operating system. Early this year, KaiOS-powered Nokia phones had gotten a suite of Google apps. India’s popular smart-feature phone ‘JioPhone’ also runs on KaiOS which has helped popularize and grow the operating system in the country.
KaiOS has tie-ups with OEMs such as TCL, HMD Global and Micromax for mobile devices and carriers like Reliance Jio, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. Reliance Industries in March had bought a 16% stake in KaiOS for $7 million cash.
“We want to ensure that Google apps and services are available to everyone, whether they are using desktops, smartphones, or feature phones,” said Anjali Joshi, Vice-President, Product Management, Next Billion Users at Google.
“This funding will help us fast-track development and global deployment of KaiOS-enabled smart feature phones, allowing us to connect the vast population that still cannot access the internet, especially in emerging markets,” said Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies, in a statement.
According to Counterpoint, further adoption of 4G feature phone will depend upon possible introduction of new apps e.g. Facebook, Google Assitant, maps, search and digital payments. Google’s apps on KaiOS would play a key role in driving adoption for the operating system and 4G feature phones.
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