An IIT Madras incubated company has developed an indigenous mobile operating system.
What’s it about? JandKops, a company incubated at IIT Madras, has developed an indigenous mobile operating system called BharOS. It can be installed on commercial off-the-shelf mobile handsets. It’s currently available to companies with strict privacy and security protocols since they handle sensitive information.
- The OS comes with No Default Apps (NDA). It means the users aren’t forced to use apps they aren’t familiar with or don’t trust. It also has Native Over The Air (NOTA) updates to keep the device secure.
- The OS gives users more control over the permissions that apps have. They can choose to install apps they trust to access certain features and data on the device. It’s done through organisation-specific Private App Store Services (PASS).
Who said what? IIT Madras director V Kamakoti said the OS focuses on security, trust, freedom, and control. He said it could revolutionise the way users think about the privacy and security of their mobile devices. Karthik Ayyar from JandK Operations Pvt Ltd said the device will always run the latest OS, thanks to NOTA updates. He said the OS design ensures users can feel safe about the apps they use.