Motorola has confirmed its new smartphone, the RAZR, with get an update to Android 4.0, the hotly anticipated operating system from Google first seen on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The firm, who have been taken over by Google, are one of the first to announce that their device will get the update.

Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich as it’s known has had mostly positive reviews since it was first unveiled along with the Nexus last month. It’s the biggest overhaul Google has done to its operating system. Contact menus along with keyboards have been revamped as has its interface as Android 4.0 is designed to work without buttons. NFC and Face Recognition to unlock the phone are neat features as with an improved notifications screen.

For Motorola it presents an important added feature for their new smartphone. Some were disappointed that the new Droid RAZR launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread instead of the new operating system. The device has already had rave reviews though. With an 8 megapixel camera, full HD video recording, a slim chassis of just 7.1 mm and 4.3 inch screen it is an attractive device with good spec. With a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, the RAZR is equally impressive in the power stakes, making it all round one of the best devices on the market. Upgrading to Android 4.0 will give the device another boost in the New Year and push sales in the traditionally slow January period.

The Droid RAZR is not the only device Motorola are providing the update. It will also extend to the Droid Bionic and original XOOMs. While some might be wanted it earlier, it makes sense for the manufacturer to wait for any bugs or faults in the operating system to be ironed out before they launch it. It also needs to be tested and fitted for each device, ensuring things like SMS and contacts lists appear correctly and there is no loss of usability for consumers. Once all those tests are done the next step is to get network operators to approve the update. This is the step that takes the longest as the device goes from carrier to carrier, country to country as they have to prove that the upgrade allows the device to perform to the regulatory body’s technical standards.

However for one hacker, Motorola’s timeframe for the roll out onto the RAZR is not quick enough. DroidTh3ory have published a video of a RAZR running Android 4.0. Porting the operating system to the device the video shows the team trying to test different features, like Wi-Fi, to see how they work. They are updating people on their progress through an online thread.

While many who own a RAZR would have liked to have seen the Android 4.0 update already installed it is unlikely they will resort to hacking and ironing out any compatibility issues themselves. Motorola has not issued a firm date for the upgrade only saying it will be in the first quarter of 2012, the cheap mobile deals for the RAZR making it likely to become one of the most popular smartphones of the first quarter.

People who looked at this item also looked at…

• The best way to keep your computer safe
• Willing to Pay Apple Patent License to Nokia
• 10 Steps to Securing Your Wireless Network
• Partners
• Galaxy Nexus and Android Ice Cream Sandwich

Related items

• Motorola RAZR the New Thinnest Smartphone on Planet
• War Nokia N8 vs iPhone 4, Who Has Superior?
• Sony Ericsson W8, Walkman First Android Phone
• Mobile development pays off
• Latest CellPhone 2011 GPS Technology

Incoming search terms: