Galaxy Nexus no longer for sale on US Google Play Store

The Galaxy Nexus is no longer available for purchase on the US Google Play Store.

Navigating over to the Galaxy Nexus page shows the device listed as "coming soon", with no option to buy available.

The removal of the Galaxy Nexus from sale is a direct consequence of the preliminary injunction against Samsung granted to Apple earlier in the week.

At the core of this particular legal battle between Samsung and Apple is the contention that the Galaxy Nexus infringes US patent '604, which centres on "unified search" specifically relating to Siri.

Google's Quick Search Box - a much-touted feature of the Galaxy Nexus - was ruled to infringe the '604 patent by Judge Lucy Koh.

Although Samsung is appealing both the injunction and the temporary sales ban awarded to Apple in the decision, it appears that, for the time being at least, Sammy is having to comply with the ban.

While the removal of the Galaxy Nexus from sale is, of course, damaging to Samsung, it may prove a profound blow to Google, too, for the device is in many ways its flagship phone.

The Galaxy Nexus was the first phone to rock Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) out of the box, for instance, and it's scheduled to be the first Android device to receive the Jelly Bean OS upgrade (Android 4.1).