Google Inc (GOOG)’s Nexus Phones Are Dead

Samsung and LG are the No. 1 and No. 3 smartphone vendors in the world, respectively, shipping a combined 81 million units in the first quarter (HTC took a big hit in the first quarter due to component shortages). That’s exactly half of the 162 million Android phones shipped during the same time, just between Samsung and LG. The importance of these OEM relationships to Android’s continued proliferation cannot be understated. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has a lot more to lose than it has to gain by choosing to compete directly.

If LG passes on the Nexus 5 while HTC and Samsung only opt for “Google Editions” of their respectively branded devices, the Nexus 4 may be the last of its breed.

The article Google’s Nexus Phones Are Dead originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Google.

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