Former Essential employees have started their own company, called OSOM Products. The company terms itself as “building the next suite of craziness.” However, details on its products or services are sketchy at best.
Essential’s erstwhile Head of R&D, Jason Keats, founded OSOM Products in February this year. He has been promoting and trying to build up a following for OSOM Products these past few months on LinkedIn and Twitter.
In a tweet, Jason Keats had confirmed that his former Essential colleagues have joined OSOM Products. These include Wolfgang Muller, JB Theou, Nick Franco, Gary Anderson, Kevin Chen, and Wilson Chan.
Wolfgang Muller is the new CMO, Kevin Chen is responsible for supply chain management, while Wilson Chan (Essential’s erstwhile Head of Operations) is most likely in a similar role at OSOM Products. Gary A and JB Theou are software engineers, and Nick Franco’s expertise is on the camera side.
Based on this mix of expertise, one can argue that OSOM Products would launch a smartphone in the future. However, do take this observation as mere conjecture and with a little bit of salt.
As of today, the OSOM Products website does not provide any indication of its product line. The website includes a simple form, using which you can sign up for updates from the company.
Essential’s demise resulted in OSOM Products being formed
Android co-founder, Andy Rubin had launched Essential Products in November 2015, after leaving his role at Google. Subsequently, the company launched the Essential Phone in 2017, which went on to develop a cult following.
Essential products developed, manufactured, and sold accessories for the Essential Phone, including a 360 Camera. Interestingly, the company had plans to launch a unique phone under its Project GEM, as well as a smart speaker called Essential Home.
Unfortunately, Essential Products had to shut down in February 2020, owing in large part to harassment allegations against the company’s founder Andy Rubin. However, the company’s official blog post lamented that they were shutting down as there was “no clear path to deliver” their new products to customers.
Essential founder Andy Rubin is not heading OSOM Products
Unsurprisingly, OSOM Products has hired a CEO with no link to the now-dead Essential Products. Andrew Zalasin is heading OSOM Products as the company’s CEO.
In fact, Jason Keats has confirmed that OSOM Products would be hiring 20-30 new employees by the end of this year. It should be interesting to see how many former Essential employees join OSOM in their erstwhile roles.
OSOM is thrilled to announce that my former colleagues Wolfgang Muller, JB Theou, Nick Franco, Gary Anderson, Kevin Chen and Wilson Chan have all joined the team here to build something OSOM! So excited to have this team together with me on another insane adventure!
— Jason Keats (@OSOMKeats) June 17, 2020