There's an intriguing new rumor making rounds across the web that the next big Nexus development from Google may not be a Nexus at all. Supposedly, along-side the HTC Nexus devices already rumored, Google is creating a new Google phone that will not be a Nexus device.
Unnamed industry sources claim that Google "is in discussions with mobile operators about releasing a Google-branded phone that will extend the company’s move into hardware.” The primary purpose of this non-Nexus device is to allow Google to create an Android smartphone that they have tighter control over. This is supposedly to help reduce fragmentation across the industry, without angering their Android OEM partners.
Basically, it sounds like this Google-branded phone will serve as an example for the best quality experience available with the Android OS. If you break it down in your head, that's basically the same thing as a Nexus device, but much stricter. It's like a "super-Nexus."
For now we are filing this into the rumor category, so take it with a healthy helping of salt.
Source: Google to step up smartphone wars with release of own handset