The popular Google Now service is currently bundled into the Google Search app for Android 4.1 and later, but it's apparently headed to Chrome as well.

Google Now is the search giant's technology for delivering weather reports, trip departure reminders, birthday alerts, nearby restaurant reviews, and more to Android users, depending on location, time, or other cues.

Now, it seems that the service is ready to expand to other platforms, as developer Francois Beaufort found signs that Google Now is working its way into the Chrome Web browser.

Google's Chrome team added a "skeleton for Google Now for Chrome" to the Chrome browser on Saturday, Dec. 7, taking a first step in a larger project to display Google Now notifications in Chrome.

By integrating Google Now into Chrome, Google can tap a new way to connect people to online services that the search giant finds relevant, depending on time and location. While Google has confirmed that it is working on the project, it did not offer any more details.

"We're always experimenting with new features in Chrome, so have nothing to announce at this time," said Jessica Kositz, a spokeswoman for the company.

The move reflects Google's seriousness and commitment to its operating system strategy. When it comes to mobile, the search giant steers crowds to its popular Android platform. When it comes to PCs, Google obviously steers people to Chrome or Chrome OS. Chrome is not an operating system per se, but browsers are nonetheless incorporating increasingly more OS abilities. Chrome OS systems can only run Web apps.

Regardless of the OS people are using, Google is designing it as a mechanism to access Google services such as search, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, Google+, and more. The search giant makes its money particularly from these services.

Google Now has proved quite popular among Android users, and making the service available on the Chrome browser could reach a much wider crowd. While not anyone can afford to buy a high-end device with Android 4.1 or later supporting Google Now, getting the service on the Chrome browser would certainly make things easier.