Verizon Galaxy Nexus Spotted in Costco Inventory, Release Date Not Mentioned

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We march on with the Galaxy Nexus rumors for the U.S. as Google, Samsung or Verizon are yet to confirm launch dates and pricing details for the first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to hit stores this year.

A few days ago we told you that the handset may be launched by Verizon on November 17, just over a week ahead of Black Friday, and on the same day the European Galaxy Nexus will go on sale, but Big Red is yet to make it official.

The phone also happens to be a high-end 4G LTE smartphone, which means that just like the recently announced Motorola Droid RAZR and HTC Rezound, it is also likely to sell for $299.99 when purchased with a new two-year contract. To prove that starting price we have a leak from Costco for you today.

According to the screenshot above, Costco will sell the handset for $289.99, most likely on contract, and as you can very well see, we’re only looking at the Verizon Galaxy Nexus version, the LTE-enabled one.

When it officially announced the handset a few weeks ago, Samsung made it clear that the Galaxy Nexus will come with HSPA+ and LTE capabilities, but unfortunately phones will sport either HSPA or LTE connectivity, not both. In other words, we’re not looking at a world phone here, which only begs the question, will the GSM/HSPA+ version also launched in the USA?

While it initially suggested it is the exclusive Galaxy Nexus carrier in the USA via a banner posted on its website, Verizon then quickly replaced any visual hints at its purported exclusive agreement to sell the phone. But since then, we haven’t seen any other U.S. carrier step up to the plate and announce the handset. Sprint was rumored at one point to carry the handset although that report is yet to be confirmed.