Prices vary from €529- €629 (about $713-$847), but it’s not clear if that’s simply retailer variation or a different price for the 16GB and 32GB models. None of the local carriers in Germany are offering subsidized versions, but if you live in the UK you’ve got an embarrassment of riches in that area. Vodafone is now offering the Galaxy Nexus on contract, being the fourth carrier to do so, behind O2, Orange and T-Mobile. In the UK you can now purchase the phone from all major carriers or “unlocked”.

Meanwhile in Google’s home country, Android fans continue to stew over Verizon’s total lack of communication concerning the first Ice Cream Sandwich phone. Though leaks and rumors are rampant (lately December 8th and 11th is favored) there’s still been no official word on a release or even a pre-order. Livid customers are beginning to flood Verizon with Twitter and Facebook messages, demanding a release and expressing their frustration every time the company sends out a marketing message. Observe:

If you’re sick of waiting, have about eight hundred dollars and want to use AT&T or T-Mobile, you could always order an import model from Expansys. Because at this point, Verizon clearly does not want your business.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : GALAXY Nexus

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : October 18, 2011

Release Date : December 15, 2011

Also Known As : Nexus Prime

Display

• Screen Size : 4.65 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x720
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.33 Inch
• Width : 2.67 Inch
• Depth : 0.35 Inch
• Weight : 135 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1750 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : OMAP 4460

CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 32 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 5 MP

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM
• CDMA

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• Compass
• GPS
• Cellular location
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

Over in the UK, things are a little more nuanced. After being accused of using Carrier IQ’s software, both Vodafone and O2 have issued partial denials, saying that they do not collect user information. Carrier IQ has been spotted on devices for both providers. O2 claims that any data collected is handled by device manufacturers, a statement that seems very much at odds with the research of independent Android security analysis Trevor Eckhart. A Google spokesperson stated that none of the phones in the Nexus line – the Nexus One, Nexus S, Nexus S 4G and the upcoming Galaxy Nexus – use the software.

Android Community has contacted all of the major carriers in the United States for clarification on the Carrier IQ situation. So far, only Verizon has responded – there’s no official word from AT&T, T-Mobile or any other U.S. carrier on the presence, or lack thereof, of Carrier IQ logging. Android enthusiasts are understandably upset at the lack of transparency, and they’re now joined by iPhone users who discovered pieces of Carrier IQ code in all current models.

It’s important to note that statements from Verizon, Rogers, Vodafone and O2 are so far unconfirmed by impartial parties. In the case of Vodafone and O2, it’s basically impossible to know what’s done with captured information once it’s sent out from a phone or tablet. Considering that it may include keystrokes, web history, call history, app use and location data, it represents a potentially huge privacy violation. I remind our readers that this information isn’t necessarily being collected maliciously – Carrier IQ’s software is designed to allow carriers to improve their network performance based on a wide array of metrics. That said, the collection and possible retention of such private data, without notification, is still an unacceptable breach of privacy and security.

We await responses from the other U.S. wireless providers, and will report any news if they choose to respond.

As of now, Vodafone stated that users should “still be able to use location services as normal once their device has locked onto the GPS connection”. Though this doesn’t solve the problem, there isn’t much more a carrier can say until they find out more information on the fix. There’s still no word on when the fix may be, but we’ll keep you posted.

For those of you that don’t receive a signal at all, you may want to consider even rooting your device. It will take you some time reading up on the terminology and processes, but will allow you to load a custom ROM or even roll back to your previous firmware (bug-free). Note: IT DOES VOID YOUR WARRANTY. But definitely don’t rush into it, do your research first. For those of you that have experience rooting already, this may point you in the right direction.

[via Talk Android]

We don’t have a lot of details, and the FCC filing isn’t revealing much either. Just like the 7″ version we see 3G labels on the rear so we can only assume these tablets will be 3G/4G capable. Rumored specs are quite decent and round up with a 1280 x 800 resolution display, 16GB internal storage, SD support, 1GB of RAM and powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor too.

Clearly in the image above the Smart Tab 10 will feature a rear facing camera, and we can only guess these will both be operated under Android 3.2 Honeycomb. We did see a ZTE branded tablet back in March sporting 4G LTE, so the possibility of these also having the same fate remains. Until we see some leaked images or more details we’ll have to just wait and see. It appears as if Vodafone has a few nice tablets headed their way.

[via Engadget]

Initially, Vodafone says, carrier billing will only be available to those who purchased their Android device through the company’s retail or online stores. The implication, however, seems to be that at some point that will be updated so that anyone slotting in a Vodafone SIM to their device will be able to charge apps to that account.

Further roll-outs across Vodafone are expected in future, and we’re guessing other European carriers will follow suit. Several US carriers already offer operator billing for Android.

Outwardly, there’s little to differentiate the 119g Galaxy S Plus from the Galaxy S before it: the same plastic casing, 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display, reasonably slimline chassis and 5-megapixel camera on the back. You also get the same front-facing camera, 8GB of internal storage – with a microSD card slot to boost that by up to 32GB – and Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI.

What’s different is processor speed and battery life. Samsung has overclocked the original 1GHz chip to 1.4GHz so as to bring it more in line with the performance we’ve seen from dual-core devices, but it’s also managed to extend battery life at the same time. In fact, the company reckons the Galaxy S Plus will last 24-percent longer than the regular S.

We took the opportunity to run a couple of benchmarks on the phone, starting with Quadrant Standard. The Galaxy S Plus scored 1241, a neat bump on top of the Galaxy S. Then we turned to Vellamo, Qualcomm’s mobile browser benchmarking tool, which combines various web-centric tests into one. Here, the Galaxy S Plus scored 829, slotting in-between the HTC EVO 3D and the HTC Sensation, an impressive boost over original phone.

In short, while you’re not getting the very best specs of the day, you’re getting a phone that needs no third-party ROMs to achieve a turn of speed. Vodafone will be offering the Galaxy S Plus imminently in the UK, priced from free with a new, 24-month agreement at £31 per month ($50) including 600 voice minutes, unlimited messaging, 500MB of data and 2GB of inclusive BT OpenZone WiFi hotspot use.

Update: The Galaxy S Plus is available now, on pay monthly plans from £25.

Meanwhile, we’re giving away a pair of Vodafone Galaxy S II handsets to UK readers over at SlashGear, so head over to see how you can win!

There’s also information on the tariff itself, including contract end date, when you can expect the bill to arrive, and for roughly how much it will be. Those using their phone abroad can also keep an eye on any roaming charges they might be racking up. Finally, there’s a map to show any nearby BT Openzone WiFi hotspots, access to which is bundled with many of Vodafone’s plans.

You’ll need an Android 1.6 device or higher to run the app, and it’s worth noting that the data isn’t updated in real-time so what it says on-screen may not be the exact state of your bill. You can download My Vodafone from the Android Market.

Those customers who had already pre-registered their interest in the EVO 3D on Vodafone will be contacted and the decision not to range it explained. The handset has already been removed from the Vodafone “Coming Soon” page. “We realise this will come as a disappointment to some people but we already offer some fantastic phones, like the HTC Sensation and Galaxy S2, with some really exciting handsets in the pipeline” the Vodafone spokesperson told us, “and we’ll continue to focus on bringing the latest and greatest smartphones to Vodafone customers.”

While the EVO 3D went on sale in the US on June 24, having been initially announced back at CTIA 2011 in March 2011, European sales of the GSM variant are yet to begin. HTC confirmed it would be offering the device in GSM form back at the end of June.

Samsung whipped the original 10.1 back into the labs after Apple unveiled the iPad 2, returning at CTIA with a slimmer version that switched out, among other things, the 8-megapixel original camera for a 3-megapixel alternative. Vodafone initially pushed ahead with its plans for the Galaxy Tab 10.1v, launching it in Australia and Germany, but the UK arm has obviously decided the thinner model is more competitive and opted for that instead.

It’s unclear when exactly the Vodafone Galaxy Tab 10.1 will hit the market, with the carrier still yet to announce launch dates or, indeed, pricing. The slate arrives in the US on June 8 in WiFi form, with an LTE version hitting Verizon Wireless this summer.

[via Vodafone]

Interestingly, Vodafone will also be offering bundled BT OpenZone WiFi hotspot access with the ChaCha, letting users get online via hotspot rather than use their data allowance. Although pricing for the smartphone – and the plans it will be paired with – hasn’t been confirmed, HTC always intended the ChaCha to be a budget device, and free WiFi can only help reduce monthly data bills.

The ChaCha has a dedicated Facebook button that allows users to share whatever they’re doing on their Facebook wall, along with a 5-megapixel camera and the usual mixture of WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. SIM-free sales are expected to begin on June 6. There’s a pre-interest sign-up page for Vodafone here.

Rather than an OTA update, the new firmware is delivered using a USB connection to your computer and the Sony Ericsson Update Service app. Vodafone says it will also improve voice quality, device stability, email setup and Exchange account performance, and introduce various bugfixes and security enhancements.

Full instructions for the Play are here and for the Arc are here. Let us know how you get on!

Your money gets you a 4.3-inch, qHD 960 x 540 touchscreen, 1.2GHz dual-core MSM8260 processor, 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, flash and 1080p Full HD video recording, and the front-facing camera for video calls. There’s also the latest iteration of HTC Sense on top of Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

All in all, it promises to be a mighty impressive smartphone. There’s more information in our hands-on video below, and in our report from the Sensation’s launch.

Company spokesperson Matthew East confirmed to The Australian that the announcement had, in fact, been a marketing stunt rather than a legitimate crime. It’s unclear when, exactly, the phone will launch.

Would-be XPERIA Play owners in New Zealand can find out more about the carrier’s competition here. The rest of us can sleep easily in our beds tonight, knowing that there aren’t rogue Sony Ericsson handsets roaming the streets, flaunting their illicit IMEIs and generally being rowdy.

[via Engadget]

The carrier shared a (tiny) photo of what looks to be a store with a boarded-up window, though it’s unclear if this single retail location actually had all of the Vodafone stock on-site. The handset is yet to be listed on the carrier’s site.

Vodafone hasn’t said exactly when would-be mobile gamers can expect more stock to arrive. Conspiracy theories already abound, however, with some Facebook commenters going so far as to suggest that the carrier has staged a fake robbery to cover up a more mundane delay of the XPERIA Play.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

The dinky phone measures in at 56 x 106 x 12mm and tips the scales at a modest 100g. It can be customized with various different covers, channeling some retro Nokia action, and owners will be able to either choose from Vodafone’s planned spring/summer and autumn/winter ranges, or design their own online.

There’s WiFi and Bluetooth as you’d expect, and the Smart will drop in Germany, Italy and the UK first for around €90 ($79).

Press Release:

Vodafone announces the Vodafone Smart – a smartphone for everyone

Android powered and with innovative design features, the Vodafone Smart is the first in its category – in store for summer, available on pay as you go data plans

Monday 16th May, 2011. Vodafone today announces the launch of the Vodafone Smart, the latest handset in its own-brand range and the first in its category: a fully-featured smartphone with popular appeal for the next wave of data users.

The Vodafone Smart delivers a compelling smartphone experience, empowering customers to enter the world of the mobile internet, bringing together apps, navigation, social-networking and multimedia, all at a great price, in a great package.

Patrick Chomet, Vodafone Group Terminals Director said, “More and more Vodafone customers are enjoying the benefits of smartphones which currently account for over 40% of the phones we sell in Europe. Continuing to push the boundaries through our own-brand range, the Vodafone Smart is a new smartphone concept. It takes the higher end mobile internet experience and packages it for the mass market, its range of covers and accessories making it a fun fashion statement. Available on pay as you go plans, and on the fast, reliable Vodafone networks, the Vodafone Smart is a great step-up into the world of mobile data.”

The Vodafone Smart will be rolled out in a range of colours – from cool monochromes, through bold brights, to bespoke graphic designs. What’s more, customers will be able to personalise their phone, creating their own one-off covers on the web. With spring/summer and autumn/winter cover ranges planned, customers can build up a cover collection to suit their style and spirit.

The Android 2.2 software will give customers access to the full Android experience, including the Android Market™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ and Google Talk™ instant messaging. In addition, the phone has a zoom camera and a capacitive touchscreen as well as 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Vodafone design team have created the user experience with first-time smartphone users in mind and, as such, the homescreen comes pre-loaded with direct links to key content and features including Facebook™, Twitter™, email, Vodafone’s ‘Prepay Manager’ for quick top-ups, Vodafone Music and finally the ‘Updates’ widget, which gives customers easy access to a shortlist of leading Android Market apps and other services selected by local Vodafone editors.

The Vodafone Smart will be available across the Vodafone footprint by early summer. Germany, Italy and the UK will be among the first to sell the phone which will retail for around €90.

In addition to the usual bugfixes, Vodafone’s changelist suggests the following tweaks:

• Enhancements to the user interface (simpler and slicker)
• New Android Keyboard,  with easy copy/paste feature
• Improved Power Management
• Internet Calling support
• Multiple Camera Management (front and back)

As far as we know, Vodafone is the first UK carrier to get their branded version of Gingerbread for the Desire HD into the wild. Let us know how you get on with the upgrade in the comments.

Your money – and commitment – gets you a 4.3-inch qHD display, 8-megapixel camera, Android 2.3 Gingerbread and the latest version of HTC Sense with a clever lock-screen that integrates various widgets and app shortcuts. There’s also Qualcomm’s new dual-core 1.2GHz processor keeping things running, and 1080p HD video capture.

The Sensation is expected to launch in the US later in 2011 as the T-Mobile Sensation 4G, but for the moment Vodafone have exclusivity on the handset in Europe. No word on how long that will last for. More details on the HTC Sensation in our hands-on report.

Our initial positive impressions of the Wildfire S remain. The handset feels far more high-quality than its plasticky predecessor, with the chassis and design more like that of the Desire S. The UI may not be Sense 3.0 as on the HTC Sensation but v2.1 is at least smooth-running and as consistent as we’re used to.

The 600MHz processor feels equally capable, and the HVGA display is bright and crisp. We can see the Wildfire S being a particular success among those looking for a super-compact device that can easily drop into a pocket or purse when it arrives on the market this coming summer.

Update: It’s worth remembering that this is non-final software, and we can probably expect an even slicker experience when the ROM is polished.

The tablet will come with a bonus book cover for those that pre-order. The official launch for Aussies of the 10.1v tablet is tomorrow. The official launch may be tomorrow, but shipments aren’t set to start until May 1.

This thing is basically just a thinner version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 that we can get here in the states. You can see more about the tablet at the link below. A no contract price will cost you AU$729 with a 2-year contract getting the tablet for no upfront cost and $AU39 monthly and a 1-year contract costing AU$259 up front and the same monthly data fee.

[via Engadget

The first signs of Gingerbread for the Galaxy S were spotted over the weekend, with the new firmware being flagged up in several Nordic countries. According to Vodafone’s change-list, the handset will get a “simpler and slicker” UI, the new Gingerbread keyboard, boosted power and camera management, and the ability to lock it into 2G mode.

To install the new firmware, you’ll need to hook your Galaxy S up to a PC running Samsung KIES. Let us know how you get on in the comments!

Press Release:

NEWS: Update for the Samsung Galaxy S

A new maintenance release for the Samsung Galaxy S is now available for Vodafone customers. This is an Android platform update to 2.3 Gingerbread which introduces a number of fixes and improvements which include;

Ul Enhancements (simpler and slicker)
New Android Keyboard, with easy copy/paste feature
Improved Power Management
Multiple Camera Management (front and back)
The ability to switch the device to GSM (2G) only mode has been restored in this update.

How will you get the latest software?

This can be done manually by connecting your handset to your computer via USB and opening the Samsung KIES application. You will be prompted that an update is available and should then follow the onscreen instructions.

Checking the software version

To check which version of the software you have on your handset you need to dial *#1234#

The new software version will show as i9000BUJV4