Motorola Talks Ice Cream Sandwich Updates

Mobile phone maker Motorola Mobility is one of the companies determined to provide users with updates to the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich platform, and the company has just provided some more info on what this move involves.

Make no mistake, the company did not announce that the software update is about to become available. In fact, they said that specific info on that would be announced at a later date.

However, they did offer details on what getting the source code for new platform releases and coming up with updates for devices involves.

The Ice Cream Sandwich source code is already out, and Google will have to come up with additional releases that will enable manufacturers to ship commercial products with the new platform version on board. It all starts with the availability of the very first device to pack the new OS flavor.

“Each new version of Android launches with one device partner, in what is called the “Google Experience Device” or GED, the showcase device for a new Android release,” Motorola explains.

“The GED partner for each launch works with Google during the development of the OS so that the device and new Android version are ready for a coordinated simultaneous launch.

“Once that GED device ships, the rest of the Android community gains access to the Android source code as its made public shortly after – a critical milestone for device manufacturers and component suppliers, enabling us to start work on integrating the new release into our existing products.”

Motorola notes that they already grabbed the source code, and that they are working with it at the moment to determine which devices will get the update and which will not.

However, the company remains committed to the previous announcement regarding the release of Ice Cream Sandwich to DROID RAZR by Motorola, Motorola RAZR, Motorola XOOM (including Family Edition) and DROID BIONIC by Motorola. All that remains to be seen is when that might happen.

“We will provide more precise guidance on timing after post-public push of Ice Cream Sandwich by Google, as well as any possible additions to this list of devices,” Motorola concluded.