Fans of Google’s mobile operating system have only just recently started receiving the latest version of the OS – dubbed ‘KitKat’ – and are already looking ahead to the next release.

Whilst KitKat brought many “under the hood” changes; it left many users asking “what’s changed?” alongside few user-facing features. Of course, being labelled 4.4, the release clearly wasn’t intended as the overhaul expected in Android 5… so where is it?

Android 4.0 was released back in 2011 and it is certainly due a bigger update; but looking at the iterative updates maybe that’s exactly how it will be with updates here on out… iterative. Perhaps we can expect smaller, but more regular updates gradually adding features and enhancements?

Or, and I’m increasingly seeing this as more likely, Google is positioning Android as their lightweight (KitKat’s optimised to run smoothly on devices with as little as 512MB RAM) mobile operating system for entry-level and mid-level devices.

There’s a new system from Google which has been getting more of their attention recently, Chrome OS. This, I believe, will eventually become the platform for their high-end devices – not just the basic Chromebooks which it is available on today.

Placing this up for consideration as Chrome OS appears redundant in its current state; why not use a Linux distro which is also free and offers more functionality?

Chrome OS looks to be targeted to work across a variety of different form factors, a similar model to Windows 8, which Google looks keen to invade..

In its current state, no, it’s not a Windows or an Android competitor… but I stand by my belief this is Google’s current focus to advance it (hence lack of Android updates) to a point where it is licensable and profitable. An OS which takes Microsoft’s cross-device vision, and pulls it off…

Google’s mission is to get their services in as many places as possible. Android is popular in emerging markets for its lack of license fee for OEMs, its low hardware requirements, and its versatility.

But Android is spiralling out of control. Its biggest OEM, Samsung, has been described as “the tail wagging the dog” by analysts for the influence and power the Korean firm holds over Google’s operating system. No other manufacturer has been able to rival Samsung, not even Google themselves with their ‘Nexus’ line (even those made by Samsung…) and it’s pushing competitors out of the market.

Chrome OS, once it’s fully fleshed-out in terms of functionality, could have a license fee attached to it – much like Microsoft with their Windows OS. If Samsung want to use this high-end OS for their high-end devices; they’d have to actually pay up.

Alternatively, Samsung could continue to release devices with the (eventually) less-advanced Android in the entry and mid-level markets.

Samsung takes 63% of the Android market and the access to Google’s services they provide is currently mutually beneficial… but what happens as over time Samsung realises it would be more profitable to replace Google’s services with their own? Sure it’d be a long-term play, but Google as it stands will eventually be excluded from their own OS…

Google will want an OS they fully-control and can profit from. Right now Samsung is, as the analyst said, “the tail wagging the dog” taking Google for a walk… letting them spend their development time (and money) on the OS; whilst Samsung has no debt to pay Google for essentially building an OS for them.

This is allowing Samsung to sit-back, watch the $9.6 billion profit roll-in, and decide what they’d like to skin and build-out in terms of services and experiences which they can profit further from.

Google isn’t a charity, it has to license Android (not likely) or Chrome OS (more likely) to retain control and profit – even if it’s only a small fee.

We’re already seeing the start of a hardware play from Google, and now is the time for such a move (again, at a guess, hence lack of Android updates as mentioned…)

This has two benefits for Google, 1) They would gain back control and earn money from Samsung’s lucrative business, and 2) Their market share would not be harmed due to Android still being available and widespread.

It may be an eventuality which Samsung has already considered. The firm is currently developing their own ‘Tizen’ OS; which for a company so successful on Android; why would they build an alternative if it wasn’t for fear of Google tightening the reigns?

Being open-source, Samsung could just skin and customise Android to look and function like their new Tizen OS, and it would save a lot of hassle…

This is, of course, purely speculative. Where do you think Android will take their platforms?

Paul Irish, Developer Advocate for Chrome, will be speaking at AppsWorld North America on February 6th in the HTML5 track. For the full agenda head here.