Google tipped to replace Nexus family with Android Silver lineup

According to a report in The Information, Google plans to stop offering Nexus devices. The search giant will replace the lineup with a new family of high-end devices dubbed Android Silver.

With Android Silver, Google will aim to further expand its influence within the Android ecosystem. Its plan includes offering devices with no third-party bloatware, as well as providing timely OS updates in a fashion similar to Apple’s. The latter involves pushing the update to all devices on the same day.

Reportedly, the smartphones and tablets from the upcoming Android Silver family will adhere closely to guidelines and specifications provided by Google. The tech giant is tipped to subsidize both the development and the marketing costs for its hardware partners. The number which Google is rumored to spend on getting the platform off the ground is rumored to be as much as $1 billion.

Speaking of hardware partners, LG and Motorola are pointed as the most likely candidates to manufacture Android Silver devices. Samsung, HTC and Sony might jump on the bandwagon at a later stage.

As a model range, Android Silver will compete against the Apple iPhone. It will also aim to put a check on Samsung’s expanding influence as the leading manufacturer of Android devices.

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