In what can only be a massive marketing boost to Nestlé, Google has announced the name of the forthcoming iteration of its Android mobile operating system (OS).

The name is not Key Lime Pie as many (including us) expected, but rather Android 4.4 (KitKat), after Nestlé’s popular chocolate and wafer confectionery.

In order to mark the release of Android KitKat, more than 50 million specially branded KitKat bars will be available in 19 markets including South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, Middle East, Russia, the UK as well as the US.

Nestlé stated that these packs will lead consumers to the website android.com/kitkat, where they will have the opportunity to win prizes that include a limited number of Google Nexus 7 tablets, and credits to spend in the Google Play app market.

For a dose of quality marketing, we would recommend readers head over to KitKat’s website for some interesting ‘specifications’ regarding this popular candy bar. 

Keeping it sweet

Android is the world’s most popular mobile OS, powering a commanding 79.3% of all smartphones shipped during Q2 2013, according to the latest figures from market research firm IDC.

Various iterations of the platform has sported sweet-themed names ever since the release of Android 1.5 Cupcake back in 2009. Cupcake was followed by Donut (Android 1.6), which was succeeded by Eclair (Android 2.0), itself followed by Froyo (Android 2.1, Frozen Yoghurt).

Hot on the heels of Froyo was Gingerbread (Android 2.3 - 2.3.7), which was succeeded by the tablet-only Honeycomb, and the Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0 - 4.0.4), before Jelly Bean showed just how slick and smooth the mobile OS can be.  

In related news, check out our Android apps for the month of August 2013 here.