When Google released the first Nexus in January 2010, the Nexus One it was plauged with connection problems and even though it was promised to come from all carriers, the Nexus One came and went from T-Mobile and AT&T. The Nexus One never touched Verizon Wireless and Google closed it webstore in July 2010. Now Google appears want to call all the shots again this time for not only smartphone but tablets too.
In April, Google started selling unlocked HSPA+ Samsung Galaxy Nexus phones directly via its webstore. The Wall Street Journal reported that Google plans to leverage early access to Android OS with device makers in order to sell the smartphones and tablets directly to buyers.
The program may be announced time for the release of Android 5.0 Jelly Bean which will be revealed at the Google IO conference in June.
Previously, Google offered first dibs such as with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus to carriers such as Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile.
The reason given for direct sales is to exert more control over the features and apps that run on Android smartphones and tablets that will then limite the carriers' influence. The plan will also "assuage" device makers who are worried that Google will favor Motorola over other partners.
Android chief Andy Rubin said, "“2012 is going to be the year that we double down and make sure we’re winning in that [tablet] space”
Google will be working with up to five manufacturers to make a portfolio of Nexus lead device that will be sold directly to consumers including tablets and smarpthones. We're calling Nexus-with-Benefits.
Previous rumors suggested that Google was working on multiple tablets with low prices as well as high-end features to compete with the Amazon Kindle and iPad. It was reported that Google was working on a Nexus Tablet with Asus on a MeM0/Transformer-like tablet as well as working with Motorola and NIVIDIA.
There are also rumors that Samsung may be working on the next Nexus smartphone. It was also rumored by Digitimes that Google was working with HTC. HTC apparently left the deal to work on Facebook phone.
When Google worked with Asus on the the Transformer Prime, it was the first table to be updated to Android 4.0 ICS. The carriers generally spend a lot of time, months and even close to a year to bring software updates to Android owners. Even Motorola that is now owned by Google is slowing on its updates of the Droid RAZR/MAXX/4.