Google announces Android 4.4 KitKat, passes a billion activations

Google has announced the name of the next major version of Android will be called 4.4 KitKat, with the mobile and online services giant also announcing more than a billion devices running the Android platform have been activated.

The company has already launched an official website for the new version of its mobile operating system, with the news announced on Google+.

“Yep, our upcoming release will be named Android KitKat!” the company states.

“KitKat has been a favourite candy on the team for some time, so for the K release, we asked if they’d be willing to lend their iconic candy bar to its name.”

Google’s senior vice president of Chrome and apps, Sundar Pichai, who took over management duties of the Android platform from Andy Rubin in March, also announced the platform has seen over a billion device activations while hinting at new devices being unveiled at the IFA in Berlin.

“All this Android innovation is driving tremendous ecosystem momentum and I’m excited to share that together we’ve now passed 1 billion Android device activations,” Pichai says.

“Also looking forward to the new devices our partners are launching in Berlin at IFA, played around with them last week and really nice – stay tuned; we’ve got a lot more coming!”

Both LG and Samsung have major product announcements set for IFA.

It had previously been speculated the next major version of Android – the K release – would be named Key Lime Pie.