Google has reportedly tapped phone maker LG to build an Android 3.0, or "Honeycomb," for the search engine's Nexus brand, which has been accorded to two smartphone lines to date.
Citing a report from Russian blog Mobile Review, Boy Genius Report said the Nexus tablet would be used as Google's base for development when it's launched in mid-summer or early fall.
"It is important to keep in mind that this device could be an engineering prototype used by Google internally for Android-tablet development," BGR noted.
Google declined to comment to eWEEK, though most industry watchers believe a Honeycomb tablet designed by Google would hold true to the Nexus formula in including only Google-approved software. Nexus-branded smartphones, such as the HTC-built Nexus One and Samsung Nexus S, were co-designed sans carrier between Google and their respective makers.
Knowing that the alleged Nexus tablet would run Honeycomb explains a lot about the product since that tablet-optimized defines the entire Android slate ecosystem at this point. Honeycomb slates include Motorola Mobility's Xoom, the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9 slates, and, of course, the LG G-Slate.
Less clear is whether the device is WiFi only or, WiFi plus 3G-enabled, and if it is the latter, what carriers would sell the Honeycomb tablet. Moreover, it's unclear what the pricing would be if the machine evolves from prototype to market.
The WiFi-only Xoom costs $599, the same as the 4G version Verizon Wireless sells with a two-year data contract. The LG G-slate will cost $529 with a two-year deal from T-Mobile. Samsung will sell its tablets for less than $500 this June.
For more, read the eWEEK article: Google Nexus Honeycomb Tablet On Tap from LG.
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