You’ve conducted the information searches. You know that chasing down an accurate release date for Google’s Nexus next-gen mobile phone is worse than the proverbial “finding a needle in a haystack” scenario. But then again, there have been three Google Nexus handsets developed and marketed in two years, this one included. There are also different manufacturers. There are also different network vendors. Could it be that all that similar but separate data bits are being confused?

Probably so. For instance, there’s abundant information on the Nexus Prime, but what IS the Nexus Prime? Hint: It’s a trick question: There IS no actual “Nexus Prime.” It’s a mislabelled or pre-official model “working name” for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

So instead of breaking out with “the” definitive release date for the Galaxy Nexus, which no one knows for certain, let’s sort through the Nexus model information and properly categorize all that seemingly conflicting data.

I. The Nexus One, aka, HTC Passion:

• Release date: US – 5 January 2010 (T-Mobile USA and AT&T). Canada – online availability 16 March 2010 (most Canadian carriers). UK and Europe – 30 April 2010 (Vodaphone)
• Operating System: Android Open Source mobile. Originally was Android 2.1, updated to 2.2.
• Special Features: Unlocked – can be used in more than one network. Voice-to-text transcription technology.
• News Highlights: First Google phone developed with outside manufacturer. Apple brought suit against HTC for patents violations.

Specific network information: Originally announced US sales through Verizon but later retracted; Verizon users were referred instead to the HTC Droid Incredible. Similarly, Sprint was to distribute but didn’t. Sprint users were referred to the HTC EVO 4G in 3G and expanding 4G markets.

II. Nexus S: Made by Samsung.

• Release date: US – 16 December 2010. UK – 22 December 2010. Canada – April 2011 (most Canadian networks).
• Operating System: Android 2.3, “Gingerbread.”
• Special Features: First Android device to incorporate Near-Field Communications (NFC) technology.
• News Highlights: Second Google mobile phone enterprise with an independent manufacturer.

Specific network information: 11 May 2011: Sprint introduced its Nexus S mobile phone that runs on their WiMax 4G network. March 2011: Vodaphone introduced a UK handset available on the Vodafone UK, O2 UK, T-Mobile UK, 3 and Orange UK networks.

III. Galaxy Nexus: Samsung.

• Release date: Anywhere from 8 December to 11 December to early 2012, US. [NOTE: Projection only – No definitive information available, and each “confirmed” date, to date, has expired uneventfully – all the understandable griping notwithstanding.]
• Operating System: Android 4.0, “Ice Cream Sandwich.”
• Special Features: No buttons – touch screen only. Screen diagonal: 4.65 inches (118.11mm)
• News Highlights: Japan gained first-release rights, projected for Nov. 17; unknown if stipulation carries over to actual, eventual release date, whenever that might be. Voice-to-text technology; Android Beam (using NFC) technology.

Specific network information, projected (subject to change): US – Verizon. Canada – Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile; Rogers Wireless and Telus both note 2012 availability. UK and Europe – O2 and Three for the HSPA+ version. Only the UK version will provide the 16GB capability. Asia-Pacific – NTT DoCoMo in Japan under the model “SC-04D” in the DoCoMo series of phones, NEXT.

Hopefully, this three-part outline will help you compartmentalize and identify the Nexus mobile phone in which you’re interested.

Tomorrow, we’ll take an in-depth look at the technical details and specifications of the Nexus models. We might be able to toss aside some confusing details in that arena, too.