At this point I don't think there is a firm release date. They (Verizon) keep penciling in launch dates hoping Google/Samsung will have a fix ready to push out at the same time as launch but Google/Samsung hasn't been able to come up with one. There is obviously something about the phone that makes Verizon feel it isn't ready to launch without the update.
I did get to spend about 30 minutes using one at BJs tonight and the phone is very impressive. I don't find the phone too big at all and everything seemed to work fine, with no problems with 4g.
The census is that it will launch on the 15th. (Next Thursday)
Quoting here......
"OK here's the skinny...
I went to buy the phone thinking there's no way I'm walking out of this store with it. The activation went through just fine but they couldn't ring up the sku.
So they hand wrote a purchase agreement and copied my credit card (they were assuming they could run it later today when the sku was active) they never got word from their boss stating anything different from the 9th as being the launch date.
When I got home and pulled the phone out of the box I seen they called & texted, they were frantically trying to reach me of course I knew what it was it was all about.
I consider these people friends and wouldn't want to see them fired. I am unemployed right now and I realize how tough it is out there.
but here is the good news...When I called Verizon to make certain that my upgrade eligabity was reset, I explained to the rep what happened. The Verizon rep was very forthcoming and told me that Verizon has not deleted the Nexus from their info guide but only hidden it,
she says the release date is there and it's the 15th. I asked how she knew this and she said she really wants the Nexus so she went digging and found it, of course we all know that could change, but I don't doubt the rep for 1 second (and I usually doubt everything) that the 15th is the target date."
OP
***Official Galaxy Nexus Pre-Release thread***(updated 12/9 Three bits of news!!) - Page 1471 - Android Forums