Samsung and Google announced last week that the companies were postponing the unveiling of Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” and the Galaxy Nexus smartphone out of respect for Steve Jobs’s passing. Samsung said that it was canceling its “Unpacked” press conference, during which the company was expected to unveil the Galaxy Nexus. “Samsung and Google have decided to postpone the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event during the CTIA in San Diego, previously scheduled for Oct. 11,” the company said in a statement at the time. “Under the current circumstances, both parties have agreed that this is not the appropriate time for the announcement of a new product.” Samsung’s comments alluded to Steve Jobs’s passing as the cause for postponing the event, and the company would later confirm this to reporters. According to industry insider Eldar Murtazin, however, Samsung and Google’s motives were not quite as noble. Read on for more.
“Nexus Prime and Android 4.0 are under question,” Murtazin posted on his Twitter account Tuesday morning. “Google removing some features which are subject of patent war. No timeline for this job.” The plugged-in Russian blogger has a solid track record with inside information. This accusation is serious, however, and we should note that it is not confirmed. To think that Samsung and Google might have tried to appease clients, the media and consumers by disingenuously citing Jobs’s passing is disheartening at best. Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Samsung is among several Android device vendors that have been locked in an ongoing patent battle with Apple since last year.
