Samsung Galaxy Nexus to launch on Verizon Wireless

The Galaxy Nexus from Samsung, the first smart phone to run on the new Google Android 4.0 mobile operating system (also called Ice Cream Sandwich), will be available on the Verizon Wireless network first.

The Galaxy Nexus will launch on the Verizon Wireless network "later this year," according to Verizon.

Consumers considering purchasing the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung should know that they will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless voice plan, starting at $40, and a data package starting at $30 for 2GB.

Features of the phone include:

• A 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display, the largest we've seen on any smart phone, with a resolution of 1280 by 720.
  
• Near Field Communications (NFC) enabled.
  
• A 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting, plus a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, zero shutter lag, and 1080p full HD video.
  
• Download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas, according to Verizon Wireless.

The Galaxy Nexus also has 1GB of RAM, and will be available with either 16GB or 32GB of internal memory. Also built in are an accelerometer, a compass, a gyro, a proximity sensor, and a barometer.

Android 4.0 brings a newly designed user interface, a fast browser, and a new implementation of Gmail that lets you search through messages even when you're offline. A new app called People lets you browse high-res photos and updates from Google+.

Verizon Wireless Introduces The Galaxy Nexus By Samsung [Verizon Wireless]

—Maggie Shader