Google Nexus 5: launching next month?

LG dropped heavy hints last week that it was working with Google on a new phone.

LG’s Nexus 4 has sold so well retailers have struggled to maintain supply

Speaking at the company’s press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Senior Vice President James Fisher claimed that the LG Nexus 4 is just “the first of many” products LG is working on with Google.

Google uses the Nexus line of smartphones and tablets to promote development of its products. It has worked with a range of manufacturers including HTC, LG and Samsung, although not yet Motorola, which it now owns. Previous rumours have also suggested that Google has discussed a Nexus device with Sony.

Fisher claimed, “Through our collaboration with Google, we launched the LG Nexus 4 smartphone. This is the first of many devices to come from our growing partnership with this very selective company.”

Although Fisher added that the firm will be launching its next generation smartphones in Barcelona next month, Samsung’s equivalent follow-up to its Nexus device was not another direct collaboration with Google. It launched the Galaxy S3 smartphone after the Galaxy Nexus, and LG is also widely expected to update its Optimus range of devices. Fisher said that “at Mobile World Congress next month and throughout the year, you’ll see us bring to market more tier-one premium handsets in various screen sizes”.

The International Business Times, however, claimed that LG has already begun to wind down production of the Nexus 4, in preparation for a new device. It added that recent rumours say the successor of LG Nexus 4 will offer a more powerful 2GHz quad core processor and a new Android operating system, called Key Lime Pie.