Google, of course, supplies the operating system and many of the cloud services and software, the rest coming from Google partners.

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Meanwhile Google could use the white spaces as a way of offering free wi-fi services to customers with phones powered by its Android operating system, as well as to other members of the public.

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Jolicloud is a stripped down operating system that, instead of running software, connects to Web services using their application programming interface (API).

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Whoever runs the dominant operating system of the future becomes the gatekeeper to content and software services, charging commissions or netting advertising dollars.

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That's not surprising as it's been among the few where the software giant has controlled "the whole widget" -- choosing the processor, designing the hardware, and developing not only the operating system and user interface, but a host of licensing standards, services and infrastructure supporting Xbox Live.

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Investigators have been asking technology companies whether Google is restricting the use of rivals' services on mobile devices using its widely used operating system, Android, the people said.

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The idea, says Buell Duncan III , IBM's general manager for ISV and developer relations, is to create a network of companies large and small, which are conversant in both nonproprietary, or open, computing standards, like the Linux operating system or the Java programming language, and IBM's suite of hardware, middleware and services.

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This improvement is likely due to a growing array of new features and services being offered that are providing a seamless product experience between the operating system functions and third-party apps.

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