The next version of Android will be called Android KitKat. When I read the initial headlines blasting through my Twitter feed, I said to myself, “I wonder how Nestle feels about this.”
Clicking over to the actual Android announcement page, it’s clear that Nestle feels just fine, thank you. It’s an actual partnership.
Android versions 1.5 to 4.1 have long been named after calorie-intensive and/or post-meal edibles: Cupcake, Donut, Éclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean. But none so far have been tied to actual brands (Honeycomb was bee-centric, not named after the cereal).
And so to Android 4.4, which will not only be named KitKat, but will sport the Android mascot made out of KitKat bars and be tied to a promotion wherein you can use codes found inside KitKat wrappers to try to win Google Play app store credits and Google Nexus tablets.
I’m no marketing whiz, but this seems like an incredibly unusual tie-in. It should be fun to watch unfold, though. Of all the Android-related treats, I’m more of a donut man myself, but Android 1.6 Donut has come and gone with no Android Runs on Dunkin’ promotions.
No word on when we can expect to see Android 4.4 KitKat, but you can check out Google’s announcement page here.