Motorola time line for Android 4.0 update

About a week ago, Verizon updated its list of Android smartphones on tap to get the Android 4.0 update Now, a list from Motorola published on its Owner's Forum shows where certain of the manufacturer's Android models stand in the update process and includes a timeframe for the Ice Cream Sandwich updates. The charts released by Motorola are dated February 15th and show that in the U.S., only the Motorola XOOM Family Edition is expected to receive the Ice Cream Sandwich update in the second quarter of the year. U.S. models with the Android 4.0 update currently in development but expected to rollout in the third quarter include the Motorola PHOTON 4G, the Motorola ATRIX and Motorola ATRIX 4G, and the Motorola XYBOARD 8.2 and Motorola XYBOARD 10.1.

That seems to be the complete list of Motorola devices in the U.S. with a timeframe for the Android 4.0 update. But what about the Motorola DRIOD RAZR, Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX or the Motorola DROID 4 not to mention the Motorola DROID BIONIC? The chart disseminated by the manufacturer lists all of those devices currently undergoing "Evaluation and Planning" with "Details to Follow" for the actual timing of the Android 4.0 update. But owners of those models shouldn't worry. In fact, Motorola says that all of those models and the Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi 3G/4G will definitely get the update with details to come later. Besides, during the Evaluation and Planning Phase, Motorola does not give out estimated time frames (see below).

There are some models that appear to be on the cusp. The Motorola DROID 3, while not named by Motorola as one of the devices definitely getting the update, is listed as currently undergoing "Evaluation and Planning" with "Details to Follow" just like it says on the most recent DROID 4 and DROID RAZR models.

Motorola says there are 4 phases to the update. Phase 1 is Evaluation and Planning where Motorola goes over things like the benefits of an update to those using the model, and technical issues. Release dates are not given out at this stage which explains the lack of time frame estimates for more recent models. Models at this stage may not make it through the entire update process. Phase 2 is the Development Phase and at this stage, Motorola ventures a particular quarter when the update will be launched. At the Testing Phase, the software undergoes tests and the device given the month that the update will be released Finally, Phase 4 comes which means the update is Available. Device owners are given a notification that the update can be downloaded via an OTA installation. Motorola Android owners can check to see if they have received an update by folowing this process: Settings ⇒ About Phone/Tablet ⇒ System Updates to manually check for an OTA upgrade.

A list of how overseas models stand in the Android 4.0 update process can be viewed at the sourcelink.

source: Motorola