Galaxy Nexus pulled from Google Play store

Google today pulled the Galaxy Nexus smartphone from its Google Play store.

Customers can no longer buy the device from the store, which has replaced the purchase button with a note that says "coming soon." Below it is a form to sign up for e-mail alerts for when the phone becomes available. Electronista first spotted the change.

Google, however, confirmed that it would begin selling the Galaxy Nexus again next week. The phone will come with Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean.

The Galaxy Nexus is perhaps the most high-profile device affected by the legal squabbling between Apple and the various Google vendors. Samsung Electronics, which has been the most successful vendor with Android, has been one of the primary targets of Apple's patent infringement lawsuits.

Last week, Judge Lucy Koh handed down the preliminary injunction against Samsung, a blow in its legal battle with Apple. Samsung filed an appeal of the injunction seeking a temporary lift on the ban until the appeal is heard. But the motion for a lift on the ban was denied yesterday and Apple later posted the $95.6 million bond required for the ban to go into effect, Foss Patents reported.

Apple has gone after the Android partners, which include HTC and Motorola Mobility (now a part of Google following its acquisition earlier this year), claiming that the smartphones infringe on its iPhone. The various companies are attempting to win a significant enough legal victory that both sides would be forced to the bargaining table to strike a patent licensing deal.

Full bans on products are rare, although HTC faced a short one for its One line of smartphones earlier this year.

The Galaxy Nexus has been Google's showcase phone, the first device with Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0), and the first slated to get Android 4.1.

Updated at 9:38 a.m. PT: to include a response from Google.