OnePlus is set to unveil its custom Android ROM, dubbed the OxygenOS, on Feb. 12.
OnePlus made the announcement through a post in the company's official forums, stating that the company has spent a lot of time on thinking about what the ROM would mean to the company and to its users.
OnePlus stated that, as with all other products that the company develops, it was looking to make a ROM that the developers themselves would want to use, allowing for more people to access great technology.
When OnePlus designed its One smartphone, the company looked to create a smartphone that delivered a powerful but straight-forward experience to its users. According to the company, this is the same experience that the company looks to deliver with its upcoming custom Android ROM.
OnePlus, through another post in its forums, asked its users on what the ROM should be named. The company said that, after going through the list of suggestions, they decided on naming the ROM OxygenOS.
OnePlus explained that they chose the name Oxygen because as the element, it was the "epitome of simplicity, yet it's also extraordinarily powerful."
Oxygen is also abundant and is a part of all things that people do. By itself, oxygen is a fundamental building block that is pure and simple. However, just like the company and its users, it is able to do great things as part of something bigger.
The entry of OnePlus into software development within the smartphone business continues the trend that was started by Xiaomi, wherein companies develop both the smartphone and the operating system that comes with it. The success that Xiaomi found in this business model has led to other companies doing something similar.
OnePlus previously said that it will be basing its custom Android ROM on Android Lollipop, that the ROM will not include bloatware, and that it will use the Material Design Language of Google. Earlier in January, an alpha version of the then unnamed ROM was released for OnePlus users, which was basically a stock version of Android Lollipop that featured no customizations.
OnePlus previously had a partnership with Cyanogen, wherein OnePlus uses the custom Android ROM that Cyanogen develops in its devices. However, OnePlus found that the company will not be able to launch the One smartphone in India due to the exclusivity agreement that was signed between Cyanogen and Micromax, a rival smartphone manufacturer.
The One smartphone was banned from being sold in India. The ban has since been lifted, but after the incident, OnePlus decided to instead develop its own custom Android ROM.
