Google is reportedly planning to release its own smartphone this year, in a move that would position the company directly against Apple and the iPhone.
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According to a report in The Telegraph UK, Google is now in talks with mobile operators regarding the release of its own handset. However, the Telegraph cites a “senior source” as saying the phone will be revealed and released this year. With this new move, the Mountain View-based giant intends to take full control of design and manufacturing, not just software that runs on its Nexus phones.
If Google has its own smartphone, the company would be able to roll out updates to users as soon as they’re ready. Most phones in the Android ecosystem are running very old versions of the operating system because manufacturers haven’t bothered to work on software updates for those phones.
Earlier this year, Google hired Rick Osterloh, former president of Motorola, to lead a new hardware division. The latest iterations of the Nexus smartphones were manufactured in partnership with LG (Nexus 5X) and Huawei (Nexus 6P). They will want to have control over it, more like what Apple has with the iOS system. From other reports, we know that HTC is making two smartphones for Google this year, including a 5-inch device whose specs leaked out recently.
Google has not commented on the plans. A Google phone would go even further. However, Pichai reiterated that Google is fully committed to working with OEMs and putting more “thought into our Nexus devices”. In November 2015, the Information revealed the company was debating the idea of building an Android phone in a bid to make its Android OS more competitive with Apple.
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So, should we be more excited about a Google-built phone than a Nexus one? He said that the company is “investing more effort” into smartphones.
