Cyanogen Wants to Take Google Away From Android, Microsoft Could Help

[[Coi] Mr.CLuBBeR]

An unusual plot in mobile

Famed Android modder Cyanogen and his self-titled startup could end up with an ally in Microsoft. How so? Word around the web is that Microsoft is a minority investor in a $70 million round of equity financing, which would value the company at around $500 million. However, that's only part of the story. The other part of the emerging storyline has to do with a bold statement recently made by Cyanogen CEO Kirt McMaster.
"I'm the CEO of Cyanogen. We're attempting to take Android away from Google," McMaster said while introducing himself and his company at a "Next Phase of Android" event.
According to Gizmodo, his comment drew some laughs from the crowd, though a day later The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft was investing in Cyanogen. Suddenly McMaster's statement seems a little less funny and a lot less wild, especially if you're Google.
Here's the thing about Android -- it's an open-source operating system that doesn't cost hardware makers a dime, though there are certain strings attached. If a device maker wants to access Google's search engine, YouTube, or even the Play Store, then the device must include other Google apps and make Google search the default.
According to Ars Technica, there's also an "anti-fragmentation clause" that prohibits OEMs from selling Android devices without Google Play. Cyanogen's ROMs don't come with any such clauses or restrictions.
Where does Microsoft fit into all this? We're not sure, though it would be interesting if it managed to get Bing featured as the default search in future Cyanogen ROMs. And depending on how much skin Microsoft wants to have in the game, it could help Cyanogen negotiate deals with hardware makers -- as it stands, Cyanogen recently inked a deal with Micromax, a smartphone maker in India, to ship handsets with Cyanogen installed.
It's an odd arrangement given that Microsoft wants to grow its own Windows platform on mobile. At the same time, it also makes sense to gamble on Cyanogen, considering how large the market is for Android devices.
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