What if Google allowed each of the top five Android OEM’s; Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola and Sony early access to the latest version of Android and allowed each one to created their own unique version of a “Nexus” device? Well, you may not have to wonder much longer, according to the Wall Street Journal, Google is looking to give five different manufacturers early access to the latest version of the Android SDK so that they can create their own Nexus device, one that will only be different from the others by its exterior design. In the end, Google would then sell these “Nexus” devices via the Play Store, much like they do now with the Galaxy Nexus. Google would sell each device at cost, without subsidies, allowing them to skip carriers, preventing them from loading their crappy bloatware onto a pure Android device. It will also allow Google to deliver timely updates, without having to go through carriers for approval.
Until now, Google has only allowed one manufacturer at a time to build a Nexus. By doing this, it not only always other OEM’s to finally have a Nexus device, but it also allows customers to choose from a variety of stock Android devices. If everything goes to plan, Google expects to have these five Nexus devices, ready and loaded with the latest version of Android (5.0 or Jelly Bean) by Thanksgiving.
If this report is true, good for Google, it’s about time they did something to override the carriers and deliver faster updates. I for one think these carriers have to much power, demanding that phones like the Galaxy S II be different from their competitors, whereas the European model looks the same on all carriers. Unless you’re Apple, Google and other manufacturers bend to their will. Of course, this does beg the question, is Google becoming more like Apple? Little by little, they are starting to take away manufacturer’s ways to differentiate themselves, demanding that certain parts of the UI remain the same, Market Play Store changes, now they are cutting out carriers, wanting OEM’s to create vanilla Android devices that they can “control.” Say what you will, but Google is slowly tightening the reins and before you now it, Android as we know it, will not be as “open” as it is now.
Source: WSJ