Mar 28, 2011 10:00 GMT  ·  By

Android OS architect Google is reportedly working on a “Google Nexus Tablet.” The alleged tablet will be manufactured by LG, making it the third handset manufacturer that partners with Google for an Android device, after HTC and Samsung.

According to Russian website Mobile Review, the LG-made Honeycomb tablet is expected to be released in mid-summer or early fall. Apparently, the slate hasn't received a name yet, nor have any specifications been shared.

There's no information regarding Google marketing plans for the tablet. The Nexus Tablet may be retailed directly to the consumers or subsidized via carriers.

However, it is almost certain that the Nexus Tablet will be the first to receive operating system and interface updates, as Google is expected to drive the tablet trend with this device, just like it did with its Nexus One and Nexus S smartphones.

In this regard, it seems that Google is preventing tablet manufacturers who launched products with Android 2.x on board to update to the latest Honeycomb platform.

The first to suffer will be Samsung's original Galaxy Tab, which was introduced with Android 2.2 Froyo, and HTC's Flyer, which should carry Android 2.4 Gingerbread.

Although HTC has already announced that the Flyer will receive the Honeycomb firmware upgrade later this year, it is not clear if the manufacturer signed a licensing agreement with Google, prior to the new policy regarding the tablet software upgrade software packages.

It is also unclear how LG has been chosen to manufacture Google's core Android reference tablet, but rumors suggest that the Korean manufacturer was the only one that agreed to Google's terms.

The “Nexus Tablet” will be the second Android tablet manufactured by LG, as LG Optimus Pad is expected to be launched on the market next month at T-Mobile.