Google has changed its mind about the name of its next mobile operating system, opting for "Kit Kat" instead of "Key Lime Pie," BBC News reported.
Google said, despite speculation and appearances, the smartphone OS maker is not naming its next software after the popular chocolate bar and neither side is paying each other for the name.
"This is not a money-changing-hands kind of deal," John Lagerling, director of Android global partnerships, said.
Kit Kat's maker, Nestle, has faced recent criticism for the way it promoted powdered baby milk in the developing world and for a recall due to a salmonella scare in dog food in the U.S. Some analysts are wary of Android's decision to name its software after the chocolate bar brand.
"If your brand is hooked up with another, you inevitably become associated with that other brand, for good or ill," said Simon Myers, a partner at the consultancy Prophet. "If that brand or business has some reputational issues that emerge, it would be naive to think as a brand owner that your good name, your brand equity, would not be affected."
Android has named all their operating systems after desert treats and have aligned them with the alphabet. In chronological order, the past versions are Cupcake, Donut, Éclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean.
Lagerling said the decision to change the name away from Key Lime Pie was because they speculated many did not know the taste.
"One of the snacks that we keep in our kitchen for late-night coding are Kit Kats. And someone said: 'Hey, why don't we call the release Kit Kat?' he said. "We didn't even know which company controlled the name, and we thought that [the choice] would be difficult. But then we thought well why not, and we decided to reach out to the Nestle folks."
Nestle allowed the name change via conference call just 24 hours after the Android team decided to make it.
"Very frankly, we decided within an hour to say let's do it," Patrice Bula, Nestle's marketing chief told the BBC.
Both sides are taking a risk associating themselves with each other. On one side, Android knew its association risk with the recent criticism around Nestle, but the smartphone OS maker has its own troubles.
Despite proudly stating the operating system has now been activated on one billion smartphones and tablets worldwide, a U.S. government report said Android is more susceptible to malware and virus attacks than any other mobile OS.
"When you try to lead a new way of communicating and profiling a brand you always have a higher risk than doing something much more traditional," Bula said. "You can go round the swimming pool 10 times wondering if the water is cold or hot or you say: 'Let's jump.'"
