One of the key features that made the OnePlus One so popular was its integration with Cyanogen, which had it running the popular Android ROM out of the box. Now, it looks like that partnership could be falling apart after Cyanogen announced an exclusive India deal with Micromax, leaving OnePlus out of the loop. So what does that mean for the upcoming OnePlus 2?
In a long blog post this weekend, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei expressed confusion and dismay in response to Cyanogen’s decision. He notes that the company still plans to sell its phone through Amazon India, though it won’t be able to update Cyanogen in the country. Elsewhere, the company promises regular software updates—at least for one more year. After that, OnePlus plans to shift towards its own in-house operating system, which is already in development.
The company’s new software will be based on Android 5.0 Lollipop and offer a fast, lightweight and bloatware-free experience. “We appreciate the work that Google has put into Android, and we have no plans of departing from Material Design nor adding unnecessary customizations,” Pei writes.
The new operating system should be ready to launch by February, though Indian users could get an early build as soon as next month. As for the OnePlus 2, the company doesn’t offer any details on what software the device will run, though at this point a second Cyanogen smartphone looks unlikely. OnePlus is planning to host a Reddit AMA interview in early Dec., so hopefully we’ll learn more about the upcoming flagship phone then.