Android 5.0 Jelly Bean to arrive before December

Google will work with multiple manufacturers to provide early access to new builds of its Android operating system and develop a range of new flagship Nexus smartphone and tablets that could launch before the end of November, according to reports.

The company has previously worked with just one device manufacturer at a time to produce a flagship handset, such as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, but Google will soon be working with up to five manufacturers to produce a range of Nexus devices, according to the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

According to the report, which cited "people familiar with the matter", the new products will run the upcoming Jelly Bean version of the Android operating system.

The report also said that Google would resurrect its strategy of selling handsets directly to consumers. Google has already experimented with selling handsets directly to customers via a web portal but closed the experimental store in late 2010 and replaced it with its current page.

The move will allow Google to retain more control over the software and services provided on Android handsets before sale. Currently, manufactures and operators can choose which services to include.

It would also allow Google to deliver software updates to customers' handsets much faster than waiting for operator testing and tweaks to be completed, which can often delay firmware upgrades.

Google had not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing.