Google’s head of Android and Chrome, Sundar Pichai, has confirmed that its next Android version will be named KitKat and not Key Lime Pie as was known internally. KitKat is a chocolate bar owned by Nestle (and licensed by Hershey), which Google approached for the use of the brand.
Google is known for using dessert names for their Android versions and since Key Lime Pie is not exactly something a lot of people know about, they chose to go with a popular snack among their Android devs which is KitKat.
No money was directly involved in this partnership with Nestle as both companies will be benefiting form each other via marketing efforts and promotions. Nestle will use the deal to build their digital reputation. They will distribute 50 million KitKat bars that will bear the Android logo with a few having winning tickets that can be redeemed for Nexus 7 tablets and Google Play credits. This promo effort will also give Google free publicity for their Android OS.
“We are proud and excited to have one of the world’s leading mobile innovators pair up with one of America’s favorite chocolate brands,” said Jennifer Podhajsky, VP of U.S. chocolate for Hershey Co., said in a statement. “Google’s choice to name their next Android platform release Kit Kat brings together two well-known icons from pop culture and technology and gives the classic jingle of ‘Gimme a Break’ a whole new meaning in the tech world.”
Despite having its own version name and being a significant upgrade, the next Android will still be at 4.4 and not 5.0.
