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The rumor mill is churning again with tales of launch dates for Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus and Motorola’s (NYSE:MMI) Droid 4 on Verizon Wireless next week.
Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) seeded GSM-enabled versions of the Galaxy Nexus with the media for early review. Verizon sources have tipped readers off (who, in turn, tipped media off) to the fact that it will offer the Galaxy Nexus for preorder Nov. 29, with a formal rollout slated for Dec. 8.
Verizon’s Code Division Multiple Access-enabled (CDMA-enabled) Galaxy Nexus runs Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” (ICS) with a 1.2GHz processor and a larger, on a 4.65-inch Super active-matrix organic LED (Super AMOLED) high-definition screen.
Other key features include Android Beam, a near-field communication (NFC) application that lets users transfer applications, videos and other content between ICS phones and facial unlock, a facial-recognition feature that lets users leverage the phone’s camera to unlock the phone.
Computer World chronicled a story from reader Mike “micdawg” Peak, who noted that he complained to Verizon about not receiving the Galaxy Nexus in the U.S. yet:
“When she called me I explained to her my issues. … She then said, ‘Well Mr. Peak, I can assure you, it won’t be long. Preorders are set to start Tuesday (November 29th). And the phone will be released Dec. 8th.'”
eWEEK reached out to a Verizon public relations spokesperson for comment, but she declined to provide one.
Verizon also declined to validate a rumor from the Droid Life blog that the carrier will also launch the Motorola Droid 4 Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone on the same day it launches the Galaxy Nexus.
Droid Life, which scored pictures of the Droid 4, said the latest flagship Droid boasts a 4-inch quarter-high-definition (qHD) display, 1.2GHz processor and 1GB of RAM.
The blog noted that the handset is reminiscent of the Droid Razr, albeit with the smaller screen and a five-row slide-out keyboard that sports “laser cut, LED edge lighting” along the keys. The Droid 4, which captures and plays back video in 1080p HD, appears to have a powerful battery-a 1,785-mAh power supply.
Such a dual, premium smartphone launch wouldn’t be a surprise from Verizon, which is facing competition this holiday season from Apple’s (NASDSQ:AAPL) iPhone 4S, as well as the phalanx of other Android handsets flooding the market.
Pre-Christmas is often the best time to launch a high-impact smartphone, so Verizon could well be ready to double up this year with the Galaxy Nexus and Droid 4 next week.