Report: Samsung Galaxy Nexus' U.S. Debut Fraught with Delays
Samsung has reportedly delayed, again, the debut of its Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone, which has generated positive raves among tech experts and touted by many as the best Android phone so far.
According to Digital Trends, Samsung had initially scheduled an October unveiling for the Galaxy Nexus in the United States but without explanation, the plan was scrapped and moved to November instead.
That too was eventually nixed by Samsung, the tech news site said, and sample units that were displayed by the company's shop in New York were pulled out, with speculations emerging that an Asian site, Hong Kong, has been picked in lieu of Nexus' initial issuance in America, purportedly to be carried by Verizon.
The telco, however, has declined to issue clarifications on the matter, allowing only vague details on the upcoming release of Samsung's new smartphone, which Verizon described on its latest statement as coming soon and anxiously awaited by many.
Beyond those words, Digital Trends said, Verizon has failed to provide concrete details if the unit will actually hit the shelves this year.
Google has picked the Galaxy Nexus as the first smartphone to carry its new Android 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich, which according to Samsung is also LTE capable or able to load sites much faster as compared to the prevailing industry connectivity standard of 3G.
Despite the pushback on its U.S. release, Samsung gave the go-ahead for its availability on selected European and Asian markets, making the phone accessible to American consumers via online transactions.
However, choosing that route, according to Digital Trends, could dampen the relative interests that Samsung has already created for its new smartphone offering in the U.S. and the months of leaving prospective buyers in limbo could eventually dissuade them to hop instead for other alternatives.
The Digital Trends report added that the delays marking Galaxy Nexus's entry into U.S. shores might have been a deliberate ploy employed by Verizon, which may want consumers first to consider its in-house products - the Droid Razr, a partnership actually with Motorola, and the Droid 4.0.
One way or another, Samsung is not being helped by the confusing situation, which came following the South Korean firm's series of legal wins against Apple that would soon allow the company to sell its Galaxy product lines to both the U.S. and Australian markets.
Such triumphs may soon turn out bitter sweet as confused Nexus fans may refocus their attention to Apple, no thanks to obvious problems between Samsung and its partner American telcos.