With Google Editions for the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 right around the corner, one might wonder where Sony could possibly fit into the picture. After all, Sony has supported the Android developer community by bringing AOSP to both the Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z. According to the latest rumors, we could see a Google Edition of the Sony Xperia Z in the near future.
The guys over at AndroidGeeks have been tipped off that Sony and Google will indeed announce a Xperia Z Google Edition handset sometime in July. Like the other Google Edition handsets, Sony’s stock Android offering will be sold through the Google Play Store online. If this rumor does turn into a reality, we’d also imagine that the handset will sell at its full, unsubsidized price, which is currently the only way to buy the handset in the US at the moment anyway.
Before Google unveiled the LG Nexus 4, there were many rumors that the search giant would release multiple Nexus devices from LG, Samsung, Sony, and Motorola. While Motorola is still a toss-up (we’re still waiting on the X Phone), and HTC, LG, and Samsung in the bag, it could only be a matter of time before Sony jumps in.
Unless a new version of Android is set to be announced, the Google Edition of the Sony Xperia Z will likely ship with Android 4.2.2 out of the box and receive updates that only Nexus devices have been able to receive. And by that, I mean in a timely fashion.
Only time will tell if this rumor turns out to be true, and we think it just might.
[AndroidGeeks via Phandroid]