Is Android Silver making an appearance this year?

Nexus, Google’s programme of Android-powered mobile devices, could be set to wind down as rumours of its successor appear on a number of websites. The partnership between Google and a number of electronics manufacturers, including LG, Asus and Samsung, could be replaced by a new line, Android Silver, and would aim at the premium end of the smartphone and tablet market - a space dominated by Apple.

Currently Nexus smartphones by LG are riding high on a wave of critical acclaim, and as these listings on http://www.ebay.co.uk show, they can be picked up for a good deal less than iPhones as well as high-end Android devices from HTC and Sony. So will Android Silver arrive in 2014?

Nexus is still going strong

According to The Verge, which published details of a Google earnings conference call in early 2014, Nexus 5 was said by Google’s chief financial officer, Patrick Pichette, to be a ‘very strong’ performer for the company. ‘We had great momentum on the Nexus 5,’ he said.

As production test beds for the latest iterations of Google’s software, Nexus devices have traditionally allowed developers to get their hands on the most up-to-date software early. Nexus smartphones also allow further end-user modification since there is no manufacturer software modification - the firmware included in Nexus smartphones is ‘pure’ Android.

If Google were to cut the Nexus programme short this year to make way for Android Silver, it would leave fans and developers very disappointed.

Taking the battle to Apple

Google is aiming upwards with Android Silver, and is looking at partnering with premium smartphone manufacturers and then throwing its marketing and software developing heft behind its chosen devices. AndroidPolice.com carries a report on the next-generation Android programme, and in it suggests that up to five devices will become Android Silver flagships.

Google’s intention is to position Android Silver on high-end smartphones that will seriously challenge Apple’s iPhone. The most recent Nexus systems have already seriously undercut the iPhone 5s and 5c, offering similar spec and feature sets for a little over half the price. By aligning the next wave of Android and all the flexibility it offers to top-quality smartphones, Google hopes Android will seriously dent iOS’s market share.

New features

As well as ensuring Android Silver phones are updated with the latest firmware before other, non-partner devices, Google would also include new software features in Android Silver to boost sales. A new, comprehensive and time-saving data transfer function would allow users to port all of their media, internet bookmarks and contacts from old phone to new - and presumably incorporate an iOS feature to entice iPhone users.

A new, ‘Never lost’ phone-tracking feature would keep tabs on the location of an Android Silver-enabled device, although details of this are scarce at the moment.