IIT-incubated firm JandK Operations has developed a home-grown operating system for smartphones, BharOS, which seeks to be an alternative to Android and iOS.

We will attempt to answer a few queries about BharOS here.

What is BharOS?
Based on the Linux kernel, BharOS is similar to Google’s Android, but the big difference is that it does not come pre-loaded with any app. Since Android is also based on a Linux kernel, BharOS will resemble Android in its look and feel, but it gives users an option to not use any app they aren’t familiar with. The idea is to provide users with more control over what apps will gain access to their data.

How does BharOS provide app access to users?
Through something called PASS or Private App Store Services, which is a list of apps that have been thoroughly vetted and have met certain security and privacy standards. The firm says this makes the apps secure.

Where is BharOS being used?
The firm says access to the OS has been provided to certain organisations “that have stringent privacy and security requirements whose users handle sensitive information that requires confidential communications on restricted apps on mobiles.” However, specific names have not been provided.

When can you expect BharOS to reach mobile phones?
Again, there is little information on how and when BharOS will roll out to smartphones. The firm has said that it had tested BharOS on a Google Pixel phone. We can expect BharOS developers to reach out to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) but whether these OEMs would embrace an OS alternative to the dominant Android or not, remains to be seen.

What apps will BharOS run?
Almost every Android app but there is no clarity on whether apps that require Google Play Services will run on BharOS or not. Is it a replacement for Android? Certainly not, as the dominance of Android is unlikely to end anytime soon.