Cyanogen, a Palo Alto startup that has developed a popular variation on the Android operating system, is reportedly being considered for acquisition or funding by Google Inc. rivals.
The Information reported that Amazon.comInc., Microsoft Corp., Samsung Electronics and Yahoo Inc. are among potential partners or buyers of the company founded by former Samsung Mobile R&D chiefSteve Kondik, who works out of Seattle, and led by CEO Kirk McMaster in Palo Alto.
The tech giants are interested in CyanogenMod, a variation on Google's Android system developed by Kondik while he was at Samsung.
They are reportedly looking for ways to get around Mountain View-based Google's dominance of mobile operating systems, where Android has nearly 85 percent of the market, according to research firm IDC.
The report said that Cyanogen is planning a large Series C round of funding. It has raised about $30 million to date from investors who include Andreessen Horowitz, Tencent, Benchmark andRedpoint Ventures.
The company faces the usual challenges of startups that are built on open source software that is supported by enthusiastic developers. It would likely need to find services and apps that it can charge for on top of CyanogenMod.
But if it is acquired by a handset maker like Microsoft or Amazon, it could become an important differentiator from makers of other Android-powered devices.
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