Let me just start off by saying that I love this phone; android 4.0, the process speed, the RAM, etc. Everything about it, EXCEPT my signal quality.
In places where I had been able to make phone calls, send text messages, and surf the web with my old 4G Thunderbolt, I now consistently get "can't connect to network" and am unable to do any of the three previously mentioned things. I understand that Verizon has noted there is an issue with the software, in that the number of signal "bars" is not accurately shown at the top of the phone. However, when I'm looking at the actual signal strength in dBm, it is CONSISTENTLY lower than every other 4G phone I've looked at.
To give an example, I was at work standing inside the doorway of a 2-story house. My coworker standing right next to me had a signal strength of -86dBm on his Droid Bionic. On my Galaxy Nexus, I had a signal strength of -190dBm; I couldn't send a text, phonecall, or do anything with data.
Not less than an hour ago I went into a Verizon Wireless store to replace my sim card in my phone; tech support sent me a new one to try and fix my problem. Every 4G phone in the store was hovering around a nice -70 to -85dBm while connected to the 4G network, but my GN, as well as the GN that was on display at the store, was -110dBm and occasionally lower.
Everyone that I've spoken at Verizon has denied that they know anything about a signal issue with this phone, but a quick Google search of "Galaxy Nexus Signal Issues" would argue otherwise. There also seems to be an issue switching from 4G to 3G, which results in a complete drop of service for a while, and then limited to no connectivity on the 3G network.
Is anyone else having these issues with their new Galaxy Nexus, or did I draw the short stick on this one? So far, the signal quality on this phone has been the worst I have ever had with a smart phone.
Here is what I was getting at the Verizon store today on the Nexus:

Here is one of the HTC 4G phones in the store:
