Google is developing an operating system (OS)
for personal computers, in a direct challenge to market leader
Microsoft and its Windows system.
Google Chrome OS will be aimed initially at small, low-cost
netbooks, but will eventually be used on PCs as well.
Google said netbooks with Chrome OS could be on sale by the
middle of 2010.
"Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google
Chrome OS," the firm said in its official blog.
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The operating system, which will run on an open source license,
was a "natural extension" of its Chrome browser, the firm said.
For Microsoft the news comes just months before it launches the
latest version of its operating system, called Windows 7.
'Back to basics'
"We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up
and get you onto the web in a few seconds," said the blog post
written by Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management, and
Google's engineering director Linus Upson.
Both men said that "the operating systems that browsers run on
were designed in an era where there was no web" and that this OS is
"our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be".
To that end, the search giant said the new OS would go back to
basics.
"We are completely redesigning the underlying security
architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with
viruses, malware and security updates.
"It should just work," said Google.
Google already has an operating system for mobile phones called
Android which can also be used to run on netbooks. Google Chrome OS
will be aimed not just at laptops but also at desktops for those
who spend a lot of time on the web.
"Truly competitive"
The announcement could dramatically change the market for
operating systems, especially for Microsoft, the biggest player
with around 90% share.
"This announcement is huge," said Rob Enderle, industry watcher
and president of the Enderle Group.
"This is the first time we have had a truly competitive OS on
the market in years. This is potentially disruptive and is the
first real attempt by anyone to go after Microsoft.
"Google is coming at this fresh and, because it is based on a
set of services that reside on the web, it is the first really post
web operating system, designed from the ground up, and reconceived
for a web world," Mr Enderle told the BBC.
Last year Google launched the Chrome browser, which it said was
designed for "people who live on the web - searching for
information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or
just staying in touch with friends."
Stephen Shankland at CNET said the move had widespread
implications.
"One is that it shows just how serious Google is about making
the web into a foundation not just for static pages but for active
applications, notably its own such as Google Docs and G-mail.
"Another: it opens new competition with Microsoft and,
potentially, a new reason for anti-trust regulators to pay close
attention to Google's moves."
Some commentators said Google's motivation in all this was
pretty clear.
"One of Google's major goals is to take Microsoft out, to
systematically destroy their hold on the market," said Mr
Enderle.
"Google wants to eliminate Microsoft and it's a unique battle.
The strategy is good. The big question is, will it work?"
At the popular blog, TechCrunch, MG Siegler said "Let's be clear
on what this really is. This is Google dropping the mother of all
bombs on its rival, Microsoft."
Microsoft releases Windows 7 later this year to replace Windows
Vista and Windows XP which is eight years old.
The Redmond based company claims that 96% of netbooks run
Windows to date.
Out of beta
In a separate announcement Google also revealed that many of its
most popular applications had finally moved out of trial, or beta,
phase.
Gmail, for example, has worn the beta tag for five years.
"We realise this situation puzzles some people, particularly
those who subscribe to the traditional definition of beta software
as being not yet ready for prime time," wrote Matthew Glotzbach,
the director of product management in the official Google blog.
The decision to ditch the beta tag was taken because the apps
had finally reached the "high bar" mark, he wrote.
More than 1.75 million companies use Google apps, according to
the firm.