Google Announces Massive Reorganization, Becomes Alphabet

google alphabetGoogle is a pretty diverse company. It’s easy to forget how many pies they have their fingers in. Off the top of my head, you’ve got search, Youtube, Social, Photos, medical research, Fiber, self driving cars, Glass, Nest, Calico, Android, and I’m sure I’m missing a good dozen other divisions.

Announced today, Alphabet will now represent the full umbrella of companies and services, while Google will become the name of a much more streamlined part of the greater whole. Co-Founder Larry Page will become the CEO of Alphabet, Sergey Page will become President of Alphabet, and Sundar Pichai (formerly in charge of Chrome OS and Android) will become the CEO of the leaner Google.

Google will now be comprised of the most successful business ventures of the whole organization. Search, Ads, Maps, Android, and Youtube are now “Google”. Alphabet includes Google, and every other division, program, and experiment.

This move makes each department a bit more accountable to the whole of the organization, and it should be easier to see which teams and companies are performing well.

Investors seemed bullish on the news, with around a 7% stock bumping following the announcement, though that has calmed back down in after hours trading.

Still, it’ll be curious to see future ventures from Larry and Sergei under the Alphabet banner, instead of seeing future Google “BETA” products.

Larry Page’s full announcement is below.

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Updated: The next version of Android to be called “Kit-Kat”? Plus Nexus 7 Giveaway!

Here we thought we were all SO CLEVER thinking the next version of Google’s mobile operating system would be called “Key Lime Pie”.

Well fresh from the Twitters, Senior VP in charge of Android and Chrome OS Sundar Pichai just posted this tweet:

For those not hip to Google Android names, every major revision of the OS is given a tasty dessert name. Starting with version 1.5 we’ve seen Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and we’re currently on Jellybean. This marks the first version of Android to use a proper product instead of a generic dessert name.

On a personal note, Kit-Kats (especially authentic British imports) are one of my fave candies.

UPDATED!

It looks like Kit-Kat is getting in on the fun too. The pair just launched The Android KitKat page, and are hosting the story of Android’s development, and the journey which took them to 1 billion activations. To celebrate they’re giving away a Nexus 7 and Google Play credit.

Is it wrong that I kinda wish I could win a Kit-Kat?

Google has posted the video of KitKat Droid’s statue being unveiled at the Google campus. Watch out around 37 seconds into the video to catch a glimpse of what might be the next Nexus phone!

MORE UPDATES: the video below just went private! Looks like someone at Google finally noticed the leaked Nexus?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMJ5APvE6uU&w=640&h=480]