Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition to Be Announced at Google I/O 2013?
Rumor has it that Google is preparing a surprise for the fans of the Google Nexus line-up, but not the surprise we were all expecting. Apparently, at the Google I/O 2013 event that will kick off in the coming ours the Mountain View-based company will not unveil a new Nexus smartphone, but a Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition.
Even though the South Korea-based company is no longer manufacturing the Google Nexus smartphones, Samsung will still be a close partner of the search engine giant, as the two companies will co-develop a stock Android 4.3 Jelly Bean-powered Samsung Galaxy S4 variant.
The new Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition will be shipped with stock Android, most likely Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, similar to one used for the smartphones of the Nexus line-up, which will receive special treatment from Google when it comes to software updates. As you probably know, it was reported that Google will launch Android 4.3 Jelly Bean today instead of the highly-anticipated Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.
Even though it will not a be a member of the Nexus tribe, the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition will come with benefits for both companies, eliminating the risk of an unhealthy competition between the Galaxy S4 and a possible Nexus smartphone developed by Samsung. While Samsung will get increased exposure in the market, with a product that will attract the users who want to taste the Vanilla flavored Android and be the first to get software updates, Google will win from associating its name with a highly successful product.
Still, we shouldn’t forget that the current Samsung Galaxy S4 was delivered with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, while the HTC One model, SGS4′s main rival is only coming with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. If the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition becomes real at Google I/O, then it might also cannibalize the sales of the original Galaxy S4.
It remains to be seen how the Google’s partners will react to this challenge, which will bring Samsung – the company that already controls about 40% of the Android ecosystem – in favorable position to take the monopoly over the Android market.
