Google may finally be producing its own smartphone

In a recent interview with Walt Mossberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai neither confirmed nor denied that the company would produce its own smartphones and only made it clear Google's involvement with the Nexus brand is mostly on the software side. Behind the scenes, however, Google's hardware division has been shuffled with new ex-Motorola leader Rick Osterloh now in charge. Sources close to British Telegraph suggest that Google is already planning to launch its own smartphone as early as this year. The company is purportedly already in talks with major wireless providers worldwide.

A Google smartphone wouldn't be the first in-house Android device as the company also manufactures the well-regarded Pixel C. This gives Google significantly more freedom on the design, production, and software of the device compared to simply handing out duties to manufacturing partners. According to CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood, Google has been concerned about Android fragmentation and is looking for a stronger grip on the platform similar to Apple. This move would bring the Android platform closer to home.

Regardless of these rumors, at least one new Nexus device is expected to be revealed this year. Both HTC and Huawei have been rumored to be responsible for the successors to the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, respectively.

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