HTC left tablet making after the Flyer took a huge flop in 2011. Now they’re returning after signing a contract with Google to make the next 9-inch Nexus tablet. HTC engineers are headed to the Googleplex in Mountain View to begin work on the project.

Although Google has a good and long-standing relationship with Samsung, who is the world’s leader in Android-based smart phones, it is believed, says the Wall Street Journal, that they are continuing their “broad base of partners” philosophy by choosing HTC for the next Nexus. The tech world’s love of the One smartphone cannot hurt either.

Google declined to comment on the reason it switches partners for Nexus devices, says the WSJ. “Android is a vibrant ecosystem, and many of the industry players are doing very well. There’s room for many partners to do well and to innovate with Android.”

HTC was the maker of the first Google Nexus One smartphone and has been expanding into other markets recently as well, including wearables. It’s also not clear why Google chose HTC over Asus, which did very well with the Nexus 7 two years ago.

Officially, neither Google nor HTC will comment on the partnership or even on whether they’re collaborating officially.