Despite the Motorola-Google deal, Motorola is not going to produce all the forthcoming Google Nexus phones, according to Google. Motorola and Google have collaborated in the past for Google’s first flagship tablet Motorola Droid, but the Nexus devices, or Google flagship mobile phones, have so far been made by Samsung and HTC. Google insists that handset makers such as Samsung or HTC have an equal shot at making the next Nexus phone.
Confirming the stand on Nexus, Andy Rubin, senior vice president of mobile at Google, said, “We have this lead device (Nexus) strategy. The strategy has worked quite well to help focus the team. What we do is select, around Christmas time each year, a manufacturer that we work very closely with to release a device in that timeframe, and that includes also some essential companies and all the components that go into the device. And essentially all the teams huddle together in one building, they jointly work and these development efforts go on for 9-12 months, and ultimately at the holiday season or right before it the devices pop out that are based on this effort.”
An audio version of the statement is available with thisismynext.
Despite assurances, the fact that Google chose to buy Motorola entire instead of just its patents suggests something may be going on. There is every possibility that Google may be looking at developing its own walled garden for the sort of control that Apple enjoys with its products.
Since he is vice president of mobile at Google this decision would fall in the jurisdiction of Andy Rubin.