th a new report on the existence of “Android Silver,” it’s looking ever more likely that will ditch its Nexus smartphone br take a slightly different approach to hardware.
Instead of selecting a single phone maker to launch each Nexus phone, may work with several phone makers on high-end smartphones running clean versions of Android, according to The Information. one makers would face limits on how many non- apps they could pre-install, users could have the option to uninstall any of these apps.
In exchange, would pay phone makers for their participation, hle the Android update process offer its own tech support. would also help promote the phones through wireless carriers retailers.
This isn’t the first we’ve heard of such a program. Earlier this month, Android lice also reported on the possibility of Android Silver, while expressing some doubts about whether the program would actually happen. And in nuary, Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin claimed that would kill the Nexus program in 2015, replacing it with a rebred ay ition program.
Android Silver does sound like a cross between the Nexus ay ition programs, allowing for a wider range of devices than the Nexus program, but with an extra level of input, involvement, promotion from . If all these reports are accurate, the question is how much incentive can provide to adopt Android Silver, both for phone makers for consumers.
According to Android lice, may include some extra services as part of the program. That could include a loaner phone while users track down lost hsets, a “hangout assistant” for live tech support via video chat an easy data migration feature for users who are switching from another smartphone. reless carriers may also be required to assist in the migration process.
In the past, carriers have been more eager to sell non-stock Android phones, onto which they can add their own services bloatware. But with the move toward early upgrades monthly installments instead of subsidies, carriers may be willing to sell more stock Android phones if they don’t have to eat the hardware cost.
If these plans come to fruition, the Silver program could launch next year in several countries, including the United States, The Information reports. In other words, don’t expect any official word from for a while, do expect at least one more round of Nexus hardware before anything changes.
