Everything You Need to Know About BharOS – When it comes to smartphones and tablets, Android and iOS dominate the market, for better or for worse. Other players also tried to make a difference in the smartphone market but failed regrettably and Windows Phone OS is one such example. Now, another player has entered the game and that is called BharOS, which is an indigenously developed OS for the Indian smartphone industry. What exactly is this OS and what makes it so interesting? Today, we tell you everything there is to know about BharOS.
Table of Contents
About BharOS
BharOS is a new OS that is specifically developed for security and privacy. It’s being developed by JandKops (JandK Operations Private Limited). It’s a non-profit company that is established at IIT Madras and security is the main priority behind the development of BharOS. It plans to adopt kernel-level security, secure boot processes, and sandboxed and encryption storage, among others. In terms of design, it should look similar to Android and that’s because BharOS will be based on the AOSP project, which stands for Android Open-Source Project. However, it won’t have Play Store or any of Google’s apps. It will have its own App Store called PASS (Private App Store Services).
BharOS Advantages and Disadvantages
Here are some of the core pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages) of BharOS.
Pros
- It will be free from Google’s apps, such as Google search, Google Drive, YouTube, Play Store, and much more. These apps come included in most Android phones and they can’t be removed, which can be a security concern for many corporations.
- Security is the key feature of BharOS and so it will have multiple security layers, including secure boot, kernel-level protection, encryption, Multi-factor Authentication, and more.
- It will have a secure and vetted App Store called PASS, which stands for Private App Store Services. So, all your apps and programs found there will be completely secure.
- Instead of Google search, it will use DuckDuckGo as it’s a privacy-oriented search engine and doesn’t track you through the use of stored cookies.
Cons
- It won’t have Play Store.
- Need to install apps before use.
- Not for the best user experience.
- Limited number of apps will be supported.
- May need technical knowledge to use BharOS.
- May not be available in the global market.
FAQs
Who Developed BharOS?
BharOS is developed by JandK Operations Private Limited, which is a non-profit company, situated at IIT Madras. They developed the OS with privacy and security in mind and it will be targeted at businesses and organizations where data security is of primary concern.
How Will It Compete with Android /iOS
How it plans to compete with Android and iOS is up for anyone’s guess. We won’t have a piece of concrete information until it is fully launched. The company reports that they are using the Pixel smartphone for testing purposes where they installed the BharOS. So, chances are you may be able to install it on other Android smartphones.
When is it Going To Be Released?
The company is yet to reveal an exact timeline for a release date, but since the company is already testing the OS on Pixel smartphones, chances are it is not very far away.
Can you install it for free?
Whether it will be available for free is not clear as of now. The company hasn’t announced anything regarding the availability of the BharOS as of now.
Can you move to BharOS from the Android OS that you already have on your smartphone?
It could be possible since the company JandKops is testing the BharOS on Pixel smartphones, but hasn’t announced anything regarding the same.
What will be the future of BharOS in the smartphone market?
The future of BharOS in the Indian market certainly seems very promising since the company seems to have plans for its deployment in businesses and government agencies. However, the company hasn’t announced anything regarding the same.
