The OSOM Effort behind Building an Android Phone (feat. Jason Keats)

It's a two-part special on Android Bytes as we chat with two execs from OSOM Privacy, an Android startup founded from the remains of Andy Rubin's Essential. In this episode, we talk about the company's first product, the Solana Saga, and what it's like building an Android experience from scratch.

With us are OSOM CEO Jason Keats and CPO Gary Anderson. You can learn more about the Saga here.

• 02:22 - After Essential shut down, why start another smartphone company?
• 06:38 - Why do so many smartphones use the same build materials?
• 09:05 - What's the Solana Saga all about?
• 15:06 - Does the Solana Saga ship with GMS? What is the software experience like?
• 18:02 - How exactly does a company bring Android with GMS onto a new device? What are the steps involved?
• 21:26 - What is a MADA? Why do companies have to sign it?
• 22:17 - Why can't a company launch a GMS product with any version of Android and security patch level? Is this requirement burdensome?
• 27:12 - How does one validate that their Android build will pass Google certification? What is xTS and how long does it take to run it?
• 31:23 - What is a 3PL? What happens when a build passes certification?
• 33:21 - How did Essential manage to ship day 1 Android updates?
• 34:50 - How do carriers play a role in Android updates?

About the Podcast

Android Bytes (powered by Esper)

A weekly show that dives deep into the Android OS

Android Bytes (powered by Esper) is the podcast that dives deep into the engineering and business decisions behind the world’s most popular OS. 

Android powers over 3 billion devices worldwide and is the platform of choice for over a thousand companies. You’ll find Android on smartphones, tablets, watches, TV, cars, kiosks, and so much more. How does Google architect Android to run on so many form factors, and how do companies fork AOSP to make it run on even more devices? These are the kinds of questions the Android Bytes podcast considers each week.

Join cohosts Mishaal Rahman and David Ruddock, two journalists with extensive knowledge covering the Android OS platform and ecosystem, as they speak to system architects, kernel engineers, app developers, and other distinguished experts in the Android space.

Get in touch with us at Esper if you’re looking to use Android device management for GMS or non-GMS devices — we have the experience you need.

Our music is “19” by HOME and is licensed under CC BY 3.0.