San Francisco - Google appears to be getting ready to introduce the next generation of its Nexus tablets.

The unveiling is likely to come at a July 24 event in San Francisco. Google Inc. sent invitations Wednesday to the media.

The event will be hosted by Sundar Pichai, a Google executive who oversees the company's Android and Chrome operating systems.

Android, the world's leading mobile operating system, powers Google's line-up of Nexus tablets. Those devices have emerged as a popular alternative to Apple Inc.'s iPad since Google released the first Nexus tablet with a 7-inch display screen last July.

It has become customary for top-selling devices to be upgraded at least once a year, fueling speculation that is what Google is about to do with the Nexus next week.