The new mobile operating system landscape developed by an IIT Madras-incubated startup, BharOS, is positioned as India's response to the widely-used Android and iOS, owned by Google and Apple respectively.
BharOS, funded by the Indian government and designed with a focus on privacy and security, aims to create a free and open-source operating system for government and public systems.
The goal is to decrease reliance on foreign operating systems in smartphones, promoting the use of indigenous technology.
This homegrown mobile operating system, BharOS, is contemplating extending its technology to routers.
According to Karthik Ayyar, the founder of JandK Operations, the organisation behind BharOS, they are exploring various versions of the operating system for different purposes.
For instance, one variant aims to enhance security and privacy for devices connected to the internet through routers.
Ayyar emphasised the importance of securing routers, highlighting the potential risks associated with infected devices leaking information.
After successfully securing phones, the focus has expanded to include laptops, desktops, and routers, given their critical role in the connectivity infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Ayyar mentioned the company's focus on enabling BharOS for 5G, with plans to collaborate with device manufacturers.
However, there is no fixed timeline for the launch of this specific variant.
BharOS, essentially is a versatile software compatible with various hardware which operates similarly to mobile phones, featuring an app store and apps that receive updates.
The report indicates that this software extends its functionality to other electronic devices like tablets, laptops, IoT devices, and routers, each with unique operating requirements.
This highlights the comprehensive approach taken by BharOS in addressing security concerns across different devices and communication channels.