That’s bit a surprise from Google, the next version of Android 4.4 will be called KitKat. Yes the tasty dark chocolate bar from Nestle will refer to the next version of Android and keeping as waiting for the long rumored Android 5.0 Key Lime Pi. Google still continuing its long tradition of naming its mobile operating system after desserts and other mouth-watering sweets, as the previous version of Android OS was named starting from Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean and finally KitKat.
It seems to be a marketing gimmick from Google and Nestle with interestingly no money involved. As Google confirmed with BBC that neither side was paying the other – “This is not a money-changing-hands kind of deal, instead it’s fun and unexpected“.
The naming seems to be a surprise for the Google Android developers, as they where still referring to the forthcoming version as Key Lime Pie in internal documents and to OEM partners. The name broke in Google office in late November last year where Mr Lagerling said he had made a “cold call” to the switchboard of Nestle’s UK advertising agency to propose the tie-up. Then it was finalised during a scret meeting between companies in the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona this February. Nestle confirmed the deal within 24 hours. To sweet thing up Nestle plans to produce more than 50 million chocolate KitKat bars featuring the Android mascot to shops in 19 countries including India. In-addition the special KitKat bar also carries a contest where buyers will be able to win Google Nexus tablets and Google Play store vouchers.
Google has set up an official web page for Android 4.4, KitKat (android.com/kitkat) where people can signup for updates on KitKat. On the other hand Nestle has refreshed their KitKat official website (KitKat.com) to the new Android look and feel. To spice thing up Nestle released a video spoofing Apple’s Jony Ive talking about the KitKat bar –
After the surprising news on Android KitKat, Google’s Android boss Sundar Pichai also announced that Android device activation has crossed 1 billion. Just three months before at Google’s I/O developer conference only Sundar announced that 900 million Android devices were activated.
We now have over 1 Billion Android activations and hope this guy in front of the building keeps that momentum going pic.twitter.com/V0VovgmObl
— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai) September 3, 2013