Google Looks to Connect More Devices

By Alistair Barr 

Google Inc. entered the race to connect devices to the Internet with a new operating system and communication standard.

The new operating system, Brillo, is a stripped-down version of Google's Android mobile operating system designed to run without using much power from devices, said Sundar Pichai, the company's product chief, during its developer conference on Thursday.

The communication system, called Weave, will help devices talk to each other using a common language, so a connected door lock can send "lock" and "unlock" signals to remote computers and other devices such as smartphones, Mr. Pichai said. Brillo and Weave--aimed for the so-called Internet of Things market--will be released by the fourth quarter of 2015, he said.

Mr. Pichai said the new operating system and communication standard should make it possible to connect devices such as parking meters, washing machines and irrigation systems on farms to the Internet and phones.

Executives from Google's Nest connected-home division, Android mobile unit and Chrome Web browser business have been pulled into the project, he said.

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