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Nexus 5: LG VP Says No, But LG Open to New Nexus

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LG will not make the Nexus 5 according to Won Kim, VP of LG Mobile Europe who took time to address a question about the Nexus 5 and a Nexus edition of the LG Optimus G Pro at a press conference this morning.

Earlier rumors from the Korea Times in early May claimed LG was planning to build the Nexus 5 for a release in 2013. This comes on the heels of reports earlier this year that LG would build a Nexus 7 tablet and a larger screen Nexus 5 device.

Read: Nexus 5 – 5 Things to Know

In an interview with All About Phones, Won Kim reportedly dismissed the idea of an LG Nexus 5, and any rumors of a LG Optimus G Pro Nexus edition. A Google Translation provides the following details about the Nexus 5 and LG,

“The Nexus 4 was a great success despite the production problems for us and Google. However we do not need such a marketing success again.”

The news comes on the same day the white Nexus 4 becomes official. The white LG Nexus 4 in will arrive in the U.S. in the coming weeks.

LG isn't working on a Nexus 5, but the company isn't in a position to turn down a chance to make the Nexus 5.

LG isn’t working on a Nexus 5, but the company isn’t in a position to turn down a chance to make the Nexus 5.

It’s odd to see a company step out and address a future product like this, even to dismiss rumors of a Nexus 5 coming from LG.

While Won Kim claims the company does not need the marketing success of the Nexus 4 to repeat as the Nexus 5, the company is in fifth place behind Apple, Samsung, HTC and Motorola with declining marketshare according in the U.S., according to comScore.

The LG Optimus G took four months to hit 1 million sales, while the HTC One hit 5 million in one month and the Samsung Galaxy S4 hit 10 million in a month as well.

While the LG Optimus G Pro hit half a million sales in Korea in under 40 days, from an outsider’s perspective the company still faces a challenge in the U.S., especially as the LG skin for Android appears to be a copy of Galaxy S4 features.

Soon after the interview went live, LG issued a statement to The Next Web which leaves room for a LG Nexus 5,

“What Mr. Won Kim said is that we are not currently working on a Nexus 5, which is true. But that doesn’t mean we would turn down the opportunity.”

We expect the Nexus 5 will arrive in time for the holiday shopping season, much like the timing for the Nexus 4 and the Galaxy Nexus before it. A Nexus 5 could welcome in a new version of Android, possibly Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie at the same event.

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