…we’re always looking to improve the Android platform, and one of the great things about Android is that its open sourced, so OEMs and manufacturer’s can build customized versions of the platform for a wide range of devices. Some have FM radio, some don’t – and a consumer who wants to take advantage of FM radio has the option to purchase a device that features it.

Lack of support isn’t for want of desire. On the Android issue-tracking page, the request for a FM Radio first showed up just a couple weeks after Nexus One went public. Unfortunately, the ticket was declined and closed the next day. But! The good news is there are currently no less than four open tickets many people still asking for the feature, which leaves us to gather Google isn’t completely deaf to our pleas.

Users aren’t the only ones wanting a radio tuner. Meet H.R. 848, the Performance Rights Act. Simply put, this bill currently making its way through the House aims to bring parity (read; more money) to music broadcasting. One of the mandates included in the bill would force manufacturers to make personal electronic devices that are FM capable. While the bill does have some support from major broadcasting groups, the government is in no rush to pass it; the bill has been sitting in the House since 2007.

Even with the support of the people and powerful lobbying groups, I wouldn’t hold your breath on a Google FM Radio app for one obvious reason; the web. Everything Google is currently doing, from the Android apps suite to the newly unveiled Chrome netbook is cloud-based, and a terrestrial radio app just doesn’t fit in with that scheme. The bright side to this is that Google hasn’t given us a definitive no on the subject.

Google, like any major company, is a master of phrase. Remember not too long ago when Eric Schmidt said there would be no Nexus 2? Technically, there isn’t. We just have the same product with a different name.

I believe the ray of light for FM lies in Google Listen. It’s hard to believe since it’s been around for almost a year and a half, but Listen is still in the Labs phase (along with Goggles and Star Map). Listen is ripe for a big official release, and what better way to get the masses to download your web-based app than to give it a huge feature people have been wanting for ages?

Of course, if a radio were available in Listen, it likely wouldn’t be the FM transmitter were are hoping for, but rather a web-based stream. Such functionality is already available through various apps in the Market; it’s not so much of a stretch to imagine Listen having an option for live radio streaming.

Without having an inside source, which, being Google, would be likely an unlikely occurrence, this is all just speculation. The only thing we can say for sure is that Google is not above big surprises.