Google-branded Android smartphone inbound?

Google is poised to make the jump from smartphone OS developer to smartphone supplier, an industry analyst has claimed.

Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Northeast Securities, claims to have spoken to Google's design partners about the online advertising giant’s plans to pair up with a smartphone manufacturer and develop a Googlephone.

The Android-based handset will be launched through retailers – rather than network providers – later this year, Kumar also told website The Street.

Precious few details have emerged about the rumoured handset’s technical specifications, although Kumar claimed to know that the phone will use a Qualcomm processor.

We’ve no reason to believe that what Kumar claims to have learned from Google design partners isn’t true. However, it’s worth noting that today – 21 October – marks exactly one year since Google opened Android’s entire source code. ®