The competition between iOS and Android in India is expected to heat up with the entry of another player – Aurora Operating System. Aurora OS is an India-Russia collaboration under the rubric of BRICS with the goal of establishing a sovereign mobile ecosystem in India outside the American one.
This partnership underscores the deepening technological partnership between Russia and India. It is being facilitated by the Indo-Russia Technology Hub in Delhi, which is a joint venture between Innopraktika Russia, an NGO in the field of international education, and BharRosa, an Indian special purpose vehicle set up for this purpose.
Aurora OS is Open Mobile Platform and pilot deployments in government and corporate customers across India has begun.
It claims to provide unparalleled security, an intuitive user experience, powerful development tools, and deep localization.
This new OS has a Software Development Kit which will provide Indian developers with a comprehensive set of tools to create, port, and customise applications specifically for the Aurora ecosystem and to meet local requirements.
It will also provide seamless adaptation to local languages, regulatory requirements, and support for Indian languages and compliance frameworks.
Another feature that this OS boasts about is its capacity for on-premise deployment of mobile services. This will ensure the secure and localized management of all data within the organisation.
Aurora’s enterprise-grade mobile platform would also be equipped with a suite of ready-to-use applications. Founders say the system is designed with a range of services such as a secure VPN, document management and mail systems, as well as video conferencing (VCS) and messaging services.
Pavel Eiges, the Director General of Open Mobile Platform (OMP) says, “Aurora OS has been engineered for adaptability across diverse hardware and use cases, ranging from government devices to automotive systems. Our partnership with India is not merely about technology transfer; it is about co-creating an ecosystem where sovereignty and innovation converge.”
Chandrakumar Chettiar, Director, Foreseer AI, says Aurora OS is a crucial element for national security in India.
“Aurora OS offers top-line native security with India’s unique requirements controlling the applications on the smartphones. The pilot phase will demonstrate the co-operation and technology transfer between the two countries to bring the most secure operating system for smartphones in India.”
Aurora OS is currently being evaluated by select Indian entities for its potential to meet stringent requirements for data protection, reliability, and local adaptability. This partnership will establish a sustainable alternative ecosystem to the West and eliminate any external dependencies.
