Samsung's new Android smartphone

Samsung unveils the Galaxy Nexus, its latest smartphone powered by Google's Android operating system called Ice Cream Sandwich.

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ASIA-COMPANYASIA - It runs on ice cream. Not the cold and creamy variety, but Google's latest smartphone operating system called Ice Cream Sandwich. Samsung Electronics unveiled the Galaxy Nexus on Wednesday (October 19) with plans to sell the phone from November.

The new high-end smartphone boasts a 4.65-inch high-definition display ("super" AM-OLED) and a dual-core processor that powers new features like face recognition to unlock the phone.

The smartphone was launched just hours after rival Apple posted earnings that missed estimates for the first time in about 10 years.

Apple blames less-than-expected sales of the iPhone, amid widespread speculation of an iPhone 5.

Google's new Android operating system aims to combine software used in tablets and smartphones, a feature already found in Apple's iPhones and iPads.

Android is the world's most-used smartphone platform, in 190 million devices, while Samsung is the top seller of Android phones and the biggest challenger to Apple.

Samsung's mobile head JK Shin says their success is testament to their close ties.

SAMSUNG ELECTRONIC'S PRESIDENT FOR MOBILE TECHNOLOGY, JK SHIN, SAYING:

"Samusung has worked closely with Google to create our innovative smartphones and tablets powered on the Android platform. Undoubtedly our close alliance with Google has played a major role in Samsung becoming the number one Android smartphone device and we are very proud of this milestone."

Samsung says the phone will have access to more than 300,000 applications and games, versus over 425,000 apps from Apple's App Store.

Apart from battling for market share, Apple and Samsung are also locked in an acrimonious legal dispute in 10 countries involving smartphones and tablet computers.

Arnold Gay, Reuters.