One of the things that Android and Google both cop flack over is the speed at which updates to the Android OS filter out to both new phones and as updates to older devices. One of the reasons specified previously by OEMs has been the fact that they don’t receive access to the source code for the latest update until Google releases their latest Nexus device which also signals the dump of the latest code to AOSP(Android Open Source Project). To remedy this it appear that Google will be partnering with many OEMs from the OHA(Open Handset Alliance) to offer ‘Nexus’ devices from each.
This appears to be a move by Google to nullify many boisterous complaints from within the industry who claim the purchase of Motorola will see an unfair advantage given to them in the form of early access to source code of the latest iteration of Android, a claim that has been denied by Google who claim a ‘Firewall’ will be built between the two companies to keep them independent.
Another motive for doing this could possibly be the recent addition by Google of a Devices section to the Play Store whereby consumers can purchase a GSM Galaxy Nexus for just $399USD directly from Google. Note that the name of the section is Devices, Plural indicating a future expansion of the section to include either more phones possibly in the Nexus series from multiple manufacturers or my personal hope Tablets, more precisely a Nexus tablet.
A large number of things would have to be worked out by Google with potential Nexus manufacturers such as which CPU would be used, Google has traditionally selected a CPU to be used on the Nexus phone which has then seen optimisations included to make sure that the Nexus runs extremely well on that platform, would we see a manufacturing model similar to the Windows Phone model which sees certain hardware specifications laid out by Google and then OEMs can have at it design wise? I think it would certainly be interesting to see, as this would certainly allow for faster and more consistent updates to be pushed to end users.
All this remains speculation or will do up until we get to Google IO at the end of June where it has been rumoured the Google Nexus Tablet will be announced and now perhaps we’ll see an expansion on the Nexus Phone lineup as well which will see Nexus handsets from the likes of not only Samsung and HTC who’ve already had a nibble at that particular cherry but also from Sony, Motorola, LG, Huawei and more. What do you guys think open Nexus program, good or bad? Which OEMs would you like to see a Nexus handset from?
