Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus, the first smartphone running Android 4.0 (also known as Ice Cream Sandwich) will be available through Canadian wireless carriers starting Dec. 7 and is already shipping in the U.K. . Verizon Wireless still hasn’t announced a release date for the device in U.S.
Bloggers are saying the U.S. availability will be about the same as for Bell and Virgin Mobile in Canada.
Bell announced Monday the Galaxy Nexus would be available Dec. 8 for $159.95 (Canadian) with a service agreement, while Virgin Mobile said it would start shipping the smartphone Dec. 7 for $159.99 (Canadian) with an agreement.
A Verizon spokeswoman said the company didn’t have a ship date for the smartphone. Google , developer of the Android platform, said it would have no comment, other than saying that Verizon is the U.S. carrier.
Verizon has previously said the Galaxy Nexus will run on its 4G LTE network. Some reviewers, including JR Raphael for Computerworld, have tested the device on HSPA+ on the T-Mobile USA network.
Google and various carriers have touted the Galaxy Nexus’ 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and its 4.65-in. touchscreen, which is larger than nearly every other smartphone.