Microsoft, Samsung, Others Eyeing Cyanogen to Compete With Google: Report

Cyanogen, the maker of what may very well be the most popular fork of Google's Android operating system - CyanogenMod, is reportedly being eyed by several major companies for a partnership or acquisition.

According to a report (full article behind a paywall) by The Information, companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Samsung and Yahoo are among the big names that are considering the mobile software startup Cyanogen as a 'potential partner or acquisition target.'

The chief reason these companies would be looking to either buy or partner Cyanogen would be to do something about Google's absolute dominance of mobile operating systems - the latest IDC Q2 2014 report shows Android with a 84.7 percent share of the global market. An acquisition or partnership would also save companies (like Amazon, and formerly Microsoft with the Nokia X software platform) the trouble of developing their own forked Android operating systems, and staying up to date with advancements.

The report also notes that Cyanogen had raised $30 million last year from venture firms and also Tencent, the Chinese Web services giant. The company is said to be planning a 'Series C' round of funding as well.

Of all the companies said to be interested in this deal, The Information says Microsoft may be the furthest ahead, as supposedly 'a person briefed by Microsoft' said Cyanogen recently met with CEO Satya Nadella.

Cyanogen in August released CyanogenMod 11.0 M9 based on Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Several changes were made since v11.0 M8, including themes support for additional UI elements, bug fixes in heads up notifications, new lock screen features, improved torch performance, and more.