Alphabet To Combine Google's Chrome And Android Operating Systems: Report

Alphabet Inc. plans to merge Google's two core operating systems, Chrome and Android, into a single offering, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, based on anonymous sources. Android is the dominant mobile operating system across the world, challenged only by Apple Inc's iOS, but the Chrome operating system, used on Chromebooks, is far behind Apple and Microsoft Corp. on personal computers. The two will be united under the Android name, which will give PCs that use the operating system access to the Google Play app store, the Journal reported. The combined operating system is targeted for a 2017 release, but an early version will be displayed next year, according to the Journal report.