OneChrome Project To Deepen Chrome OS And Android Integration

Google has two major operating systems, and one experimental one still coming, and that doesn't seem to be changing any time soon. Instead of the "one OS to rule them all" approach, Google is instead using a strategy that tries to seamlessly bridge the divide between Chrome OS and Android. The latest step in that regard seems to be a project called "OneChrome" that will let the two platforms share pieces of data, including Wi-Fi passwords, clipboard, and even phone numbers.

One reason Google may not be so keen on merging the two platforms completely is that each is better than the other at doing one thing. Android, for example, is better at making calls while Chrome OS is better at productive work. That doesn't mean, however, that they can't benefit from each other.

OneChrome is attempting to be that bridge that connects the two. According to the source code change spotted by Chrome Story, the project has quite a number of features planned. One, for example, would allow for easily making a call, via an Android phone, for a number that was found on the Chrome OS device. It's still unknown whether this means placing the call directly on the phone or having an interface in Chrome OS that lets you do that on the Chromebook itself.

There's also clipboard sharing, which is probably the most common use case of data sharing between two devices. There's also Wi-Fi password sharing so you won't have to fill in the password once for each device.

The communication between devices is promised to be encrypted from end to end though it's not clear whether they need to be sitting on the same network or if happens through Google's cloud. At this point, there's still a lot of missing pieces but it would definitely be an interesting development in Chrome OS land.