Android Jelly Bean Release Date For Verizon Galaxy Nexus Arrives, But Software Still Barely Present On Android Devices

Google slowly rolled out its Jelly Bean upgrade across Android devices this past summer, and the 4.1 operating system finally arrived on another handset Friday. The Verizon edition of Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus can now support Google’s latest treat-themed software.

The search engine giant announced that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean would come to the unlocked GSM Galaxy Nexus a few weeks after the OS was announced, but the Verizon variant was stuck with Ice Cream Sandwich until today. The update comes weeks after Sprint rolled out Jelly Bean for its Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S devices.

“Get the most out of your Galaxy Nexus by Samsung,” Verizon advertised on its official website.

Verizon is rolling out an update to all of its Galaxy Nexus devices labeled SW Version JRO03O, which includes Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Although Verizon may be getting the update a little late, the Galaxy Nexus is still receiving the new software faster than other handsets on the market. The list of devices currently running on Jelly Bean pales in comparison to the number of gadgets still waiting on the Android update.

Recent statistics illustrate this point even further, showing that only 1.5 percent of Android devices are running on the latest operating system two months after its launch. A report from Google released in early August said that Jelly Bean was present on .08 percent of Android devices.The information comes from analytics firms Chitika and Chartboost, who measured the number of devices running on both Jelly Bean and Apple’s iOS 6.

In contrast, Apple’s newest mobile software is present on 15 percent of compatible iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices, according to TabTimes. Apple’s iOS 6 was released earlier this week on Wednesday and boasts 200 new features, including Apple Maps, an improved Siri, Passbook and more Facebook integration.

Jelly Bean’s highlighted features include Project Butter, which promises an overall smoother user experience, Google Now, a slight camera upgrade and improved notifications and widgets among other additions.

Samsung flagship smartphone of 2012, the Galaxy S3, is expected to get the Jelly Bean upgrade in October, according to CNET UK. The Korea-based company reportedly told the technology news source that the Galaxy S3 will be upgraded next month, but did not specify further.

Google’s Nexus 7 tablet was among the first to get Android’s Jelly Bean, and other popular handsets and tabs are on track to get the “buttery smooth” software.

Check out our full list of devices confirmed to get Jelly Bean here.