14 DAY TRIAL // Starting today, the owners of Samsung Galaxy S II smartphones on the airwaves of O2 in the UK can download and install the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich platform on their devices.
The wireless carrier has just announced the availability of the new platform release for its customers, after other carriers in the country started to push the update out last week.
“Never too early for an Ice Cream Sandwich - O2 customers with Samsung Galaxy S2s can now get Android 4.0 through Kies. Enjoy,” the wireless carrier announced on its Twitter account.
The new software brings along a variety of features and enhancements when compared to the previously available Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform.
In addition to a new UI and performance enhancements that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich packs, Samsung also promises Face Unlock and Android Beam with the new software update.
Moreover, the firmware will provide users with a Mobile Network Data usage function, as well as with improved usability of multi-tasking and some applications. No to mention that Samsung has packed its own TouchWiz UI on top of Ice Cream Sandwich for Galaxy S II.
While the update started to arrive on unlocked devices last week, O2 needed some time to test it and make sure that it would work on its network.
To download and install the new software update, users will have to connect their devices to a desktop PC and fire up the Samsung Kies application that has been previously installed on the device.
“After ICS upgrade, important user data (like phone book, message, and picture) will be maintained. But due to the changes in the software, few user data or setting value will be initialized,” Samsung notes.
Before proceeding with the software update, users should consider backing up all data on their phones, so that no important files or settings are lost during the installation process.