Apple may begin merging iOS and OS X in 2012, says analyst

Apple could begin to merge its iOS and Mac OS X platforms as soon as next year, ensuring the company increases its gross margins but also assist the company in its pursuit to deliver video content across its range of devices via its iCloud service, according to analyst Peter Misek.

Misek believes that merging the two operating systems would lead to “synergies” that would allow Apple customers to stream TV shows and movies, as well as other forms of media stored on Apple’s iCloud service, across smartphones, tablets, computers and television devices (AppleTV).

“Users want to be able to pick up any iPhone, iPad, or Mac (or turn on their iTV) and have content move seamlessly between them and be optimized for the user and the device currently being used,” writes Pisek. “We believe this will be difficult to implement if iOS and OS X are kept separate.”

With this in mind, Misek states that Apple will look to “merge iOS (iPhones/iPads) with OS X (Macs) into a single platform for apps and cloud services starting in 2012-13,” with the new A6 processor expected to power the new iPad 3 and iPhone 5 expected next year. The iPhone refresh expected in the coming months could launch as the iPhone 4S.

Macbook Pro models and Mac desktops are expected to stick with Mac OS X for the next few years, but they could also switch to iOS by 2016.

“We believe Apple is ready to start sampling the A6 quad-core app processor and will be the first such multi-device platform capable of PC-like strength.”