Google is planning to merge two of its operating systems, Chrome and Android, into a single offering.
Citing a person familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported that the company plans to preview the combined OS next year and launch the final version in 2017.
Android powers over one billion phones and other devices manufactured by several firms. Chrome, which powers PCs, is used on Chromebooks.
According to research firm IDC, Chromebooks accounted for about 3% of all the laptops shipped globally in 2014.
Google has more than 1.4 billion active users of Android OS. The company acquired the software in 2005 with its purchase of Android Inc.
The speculations that Google would merge Android and Chrome OS started in March 2013 when the then head of the company’s mobile business Andy Rubin handed the responsibilities of Android business to current CEO Sundar Pichai.
The move is part of Google’s plans to make Android run on as many devices as possible.
The people familiar with the matter said the new version of Android will give PC users access to Google’s Play store.
