HTC said its HTC Vivid, Rezound, Sensation, Sensation XL and Sensation XE, as well as EVO 3D, EVO Design 4G and Amaze 4G will get the Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" upgrade next year.
HTC Nov. 7 confirmed that eight of its premium Android
smartphones, including the HTC Vivid and HTC Rezound, will receive the upgrade
to Google's forthcoming Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" operating
system next year.
The phone maker also pledged to bring ICS to the HTC
Sensation, HTC Sensation XL and HTC Sensation XE, as well as HTC EVO 3D, HTC
EVO Design 4G and HTC Amaze 4G "through close integration with our carrier
partners."
That leaves out popular devices such as the HTC Thunderbolt 4G
LTE smartphone, though HTC assured consumers it isn't finished upgrading.
"We're continuing to assess our product portfolio,
so stay tuned for more updates on device upgrades, timing and other details
about HTC and Ice Cream Sandwich," the company added on its Facebook page.
ICS includes better notifications, virtual software navigation buttons,
multi-tasking and holographic widgets.
There are also near field communications
(NFC) capabilities to let users tap their phones together to share applications
and YouTube videos. There is also a feature that lets users unlock their
phone's screens through facial recognition.
ICS is launching later this month on the
Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone from Verizon Wireless. Not long after Verizon
pledged to begin selling the Galaxy Nexus, other Android OEMs rushed forward to
declare their loyalty to the platform.
Also on tap to get ICS are Samsung's Nexus, Motorola Mobility's (NYSE:MMI) Xoom,
Droid Bionic and Droid Razr, LG's Optimus 2X, and the Sony Xperia line.
HTC, which has a solid track record for rolling out Android platform
upgrades compared to Samsung and Motorola, is in an interesting
position.
While the company reported its
highest quarterly sales ever $1.46 billion and
last week passed Research in Motion (NYSE:RIM) to became the fourth largest
smartphone maker in the world the company indicated Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL)
iPhone 4S launch would weaken its sales in the fourth quarter.
It will be worth watching whether HTC can maintain its momentum
versus the iPhone, not to mention Samsung, Motorola and the other
Android OEMs.
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