By Paul Carsten and Gerry Shih BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Tencent Holdings Ltd launched on Tuesday an operating system for internet-connected devices such as TVs and watches that is open to all developers, taking on domestic rivals Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Xiaomi Inc [XTC.UL] in the smart hardware space. Tencent Operating System (OS) and TOS+ allow manufacturers and developers to freely use the platform if they agree to share revenue. This model mirrors Google Inc's Android mobile OS, and could help Tencent replicate the U.S. firm's conquest of the majority of the world's smartphones. Tencent is the dominant social networking and online entertainment company in China, and the success of its OS would deepen its control over users' screens.



More...