Google may have been interested in purchasing custom ROM maker Cyanogen, The Information has discovered, as the latter is looking for additional funding, seeking a valuation close to $1 billion. Previous reports from the same online publication revealed that many other companies have also shown interest in Cyanogen, including Microsoft, Samsung, Amazon and many other.
FROM EARLIER: Microsoft might be interested in acquiring the most popular custom Android build ever
Apparently, Cyanogen management has recently met with Google’s Sundar Pichai, who expressed interest in buying the company, or that’s what potential investors have been told.
Cyanogen, which makes the most popular custom ROM CyanogenMod based on Android, is yet to prove it’s actually making any revenue. The company has partnered with Oppo and OnePlus so far, and The Information says it also has a deal in place with Indian Android device Micromax, a company that’s also involved in the first Android One handset rollout in the region.
Even though Cyanogen apparently used its negotiations with Google as leverage in existing funding talks, the company isn’t too keen on Google’s way of handling Android, according to other recent reports. “Everyone in the world wants an open Android, CEO Kirt McMaster told Re/code recently. “They want to get outside of Google’s tyranny, if you will.”
