Several versions of the Android OS for smartphones have appeared on the global stage in recent years. One version, Cyanogen OS, has gathered publicity as well as prominent investors –including Twitter, Qualcomm and Foxconn — that could give it some staying power.

In a July report, IDC analyst William Stofega, asserted, “Cyanogen has the potential to meaningfully disrupt the current duopoly of Android and iOS, creating a richer experience for end users.”

Doing so would be a tall order for the Cyanogen OS, given that Apple and various Android phone makers control more than 95% of the smartphone market.

An estimated 50 million users have loaded the open source Cyanogen OS on their smartphones since 2009 after stripping off the existing OS. In the past year, several new phones have arrived that are pre-loaded with the OS from newer phone manufacturers.

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