Having risen to dominance in the smartphone markets and making waves to challenge the iPad on the tablet scene, a number of reports have suggested Google’s next-generation Android operating system will fall under the moniker of Android Jelly Bean.

Despite Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates only just beginning to get a widespread rollout and with the flurry of MWC 2012 unveiled Ice Cream Sandwich smartphones and tablets beginning to hit stores the rumour mill has turned to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and its expected late 2012 release.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Name

Still far from confirmed, the name of the Ice Cream Sandwich follow-on has long been the thing of rumour and speculation with the next-generation smartphone and tablet OS set to follow the dessert based naming convention laid out by its predecessors.

On the back of the Éclair, FroYo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich Android offerings, recent reports have suggested Google will opt for Jelly Bean as its next iconic release forgoing the options of Jelly, Jam and Jaffa Cake in the process.

Although Google has yet to officially speak out on its Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich follow-on, hardware manufacturer and Android supporter Asus has seemingly confirmed the final branding for the upcoming software.
 

Speaking with T3’s sister site Tech Radar during MWC 2012, Asus has suggested its close relationship with Google will see it feature as one of the first brands to offer the Android 4.1 update later this year, confirming the software’s name in the process.

"Asus is very close to Google, so once they have Android 5.0 I think there will be a high possibility that we will be the first wave to offer the Jelly Bean update," said Benson Lin, Asus’ Corporate Vice President.

Although currently unconfirmed in itself, it is widely expected that Jelly Bean will subsequently be replaced by another dessert entitled offering with Key Lime Pie to land as either Android version 5.5 or 6.