Google's last handset offering, the LG Nexus 4, has been off limits to Verizon customers, but all of that may change soon enough. An LTE variant of the Nexus 4 is said to be in the works, and rumor has it the smartphone will make its debut appearance at Google I/O running Android 4.3.
The Nexus 4, which has gained immense popularity due to its good looks, affordability, and cutting-edge Android nature, initially released with a couple shortcomings. First off, the handset is still only available in 8GB and 16GB variants, a paltry amount of memory for today's data-hungry smartphone user. Second, and perhaps most importantly, the phone only works on HSPA+ networks and has no LTE support.
Which is why rumblings and sightings of a 32GB LTE Nexus 4 model have been gaining steam. The increased memory and LTE connectivity all indicate Google is attempting to rectify those flaws, and if history is correct, CDMA support (for networks like Verizon and Sprint, which don't run on HSPA+ like AT&T or T-Mobile) should be tacked on. Google employed a similar strategy with its previous flagship handset, the Galaxy Nexus, which eventually received its own Verizon variant as well.
Verizon, with the largest LTE network in the United States, is well poised as a carrier to help launch an LTE Nexus 4, whose release might also mean the demise of the normal 8GB model.
As for what Android version this handset could be running, it seems that Android 4.3, not Android 5.0, will be the next step in the Android lineup. The build has apparently been spotted in several server logs running on Google Nexus devices as well as some non-Google devices as well.
Google hasn't yet confirmed anything, and Google I/O begins on May 15, so until then, we'll have to treat everything as just rumor. Still, would you pick up a Nexus 4 if it lands on Verizon's network?
You can check out my review of the Nexus 4 here.