By Beth Stebner and Reuters Reporter PUBLISHED: 20:29 EST, 13 March 2013 | UPDATED: 05:36 EST, 14 March 2013 The architect of Google’s Android’s operating system, Andy Rubin, is stepping down unexpectedly after a seven-year stint in the job. The surprise change was announced by Google on Wednesday and could raise new questions about Android’s direction as Google competes with Apple, Microsoft, and other tech companies rushing to gain ground in the lucrative mobile computing market. In his place, Google has appointed Sundar Pichai, the executive overseeing its Chrome web browser and applications like Google Drive and Gmail, to take over Rubin's spot.
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Rubin, 50, had been in the post for seven years
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Sundar Pichai the former Chrome, Drive, and Gmail boss will take over
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Samsung gearing up to unveil next-generation smartphone, the Galaxy S IV, in New York
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Still, it remains unclear how Pichai would seek to merge Chrome and @placeholder, if at all.
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But Android's explosive growth - and the companies it has boosted - have also concerned @placeholder's leadership.
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In 2008, Pichai aggressively pushed Google's Chrome browser, when @placeholder's Explorer lorded over the market.