KaiOS Technologies, which has built eponymous operating system for feature phones, also deployed on the Jio Phone, has raised $22 million from Google. KaiOS enables smartphone-like features and native apps into low-cost feature phones. As part of the investment, KaiOS will work on integrating Google services like search, maps, YouTube and its voice assistant into more KaiOS devices; the company announced GoogleMaps for KaiOS-powered Nokia phones earlier this year. Google integrates its Search service with internet browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Apple's Safari. Google paid Mozilla Corporation in 2017 to replace Yahoo with Google Search as Mozilla's default search engine. Google Search also replaced Apple's native search engine in 2012 after Google paid Apple Inc. The Android OS runs on phones sold by Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Motorola, and others and integrates core Google services like Maps, Assistant, Search, YouTube, GMail into the device. Remember that Google bought Android in 2005. Put together, Android and iOS account for 99% of global smartphone sales, according to Gartner. So why is Google interested in KaiOS? The KaiOS investment is Google's bid to expand the reach of its core services to emerging markets through feature phones. “This funding will help us fast-track development and global deployment of KaiOS-enabled smart feature phones, allowing us to connect the vast population that still cannot access the internet, especially in emerging markets,” said KaiOS CEO Sebastien Codeville in a statement. Google's business is built on the idea that more and more people should starting using its OS (Android), and naturally…
