Verizon Wireless Galaxy Nexus Finally On Sale!!

The Samsung device, which is the first to run on the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android, will cost $299.99 with a two-year contract, the carrier said in an e-mailed statement.

The phone has been eagerly anticipated since its unveiling in Hong Kong in October, and is designed to be a showcase for Ice Cream Sandwich, which includes a number of new features and combines the tablet and smartphone interfaces into a common experience.

It's also the latest Verizon device to run on its 4G LTE network.

Android fans have been coveting the phone since its unveiling, but Verizon had previously been cagey about the details of the launch date. The carrier had gone so far as to send out devices to stores last week for a launch on Friday, but inexplicably pulled back on its plans. The company never confirmed that Friday was the prior launch date, and didn't comment on the delay.

Indeed, while the Galaxy Nexus is a high-profile phone, Verizon never considered it a flagship device, instead reserving much of its marketing resources behind the Motorola Droid RAZR.

Android fans looking for the "pure Android" experience will be slightly disappointed; the device comes with a few preloaded Verizon apps.

Google, meanwhile, has said that it has removed its Google Wallet mobile-payment application from the device in response to a request from Verizon. Verizon, under fire for the move, has denied blocking the app and said it is negotiating the technical integration of the app.