COS (operating system)

{{For|other operating systems with this initialism|COS (disambiguation)#Operating systems{{!}}COS § Operating systems}}

{{more footnotes|date=February 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}

{{Infobox OS

| name = COS

| logo =

| screenshot =

| caption = COS

| website = {{URL|http://www.china-cos.com}}

| developer = Liantong Network Communications Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

| family = Linux (Unix-like)

| source model = Closed source

| released = {{Start date|2014|1|15|df=yes}}

| latest release version =

| latest release date =

| latest preview date =

| frequently updated =

| marketing target = Mobile, Tablets, Set top boxes

| kernel type = Monolithic (Linux kernel)

| programmed_in =

| userland =

| ui = Several GUIs

| license = Various

| working state = Current

| supported platforms = ARM

| updatemodel =

| package manager =

}}

COS (China Operating System) is a Linux kernel-based mobile operating system developed in China mainly targeting mobile devices, tablets and set-top boxes. It is being developed by the Institute of Software at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISCAS) together with Shanghai Liantong Network Communications Technology to compete with foreign operating systems like iOS and Android.{{cite news|url=http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/china-unveils-new-native-operating-system/|work=The New York Times|title=China Unveils New Native Operating System|author=BREE FENG|date=January 17, 2014|accessdate=2014-02-27}} The operating system is based on Linux but the platform is closed source. Security and the risk of back doors in devices from foreign vendors are some of the main motivations for COS. Android had almost 90% of the smart phone market when COS was introduced and Apple most of the remaining market share. COS looks very similar to Android and has its own Application Portal much like Android Market and iOS App Store.