Verizon stiffs 3G Android owners
There's no Ice Cream Sandwich for you, baby. Verizon has announced the smartphones and other devices eligible to receive the sweet Android 4.0 dessert, and all but two are 4G LTE. That's right, if you're among the 95 percent of Verizon subscribers on 3G, and you've got Android, no upgrade is planned.
Only 5 percent of Verizon subscribers currently have LTE, even though the service is available to over 200 million in 196 metro areas. Verizon offers about two dozen LTE smartphones, tablets, netbooks and modems/mobile hotspots. Only 15 devices make the cut.
By my quick count, Verizon offers 10 LTE handseets. Some of them will get the ICS middle finger, too. Ah, what about flagship Google phone Galaxy Nexus? It's not on the list! (Clarification in response to some of our readers. Yes, Galaxy Nexus ships with Android 4.0, but the non-Verizon, HSPA+ models are favored for updates. Didn't Google officially drop developer support for Verizon's model last month?)
There is some good news here. Android loyalists who bought the Motorola XOOM a year ago will see their LTE tablet get Ice Cream Sandwich.
Now if only Verizon would say when ICS updates will be available.
The list, straight from Verizon:
HTC:
- HTC ThunderBolt
- DROID Incredible 2 by HTC
- HTC Rhyme
- HTC Rezound
Motorola:
- Motorola XOOM
- DROID BIONIC
- DROID RAZR
- DROID RAZR MAXX
- DROID 4
- DROID XYBOARD 8.2
- DROID XYBOARD 10.1
Samsung:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
LG:
- Spectrum by LG
"We will continue to update this list as additional details become available throughout the year," says Verizon's Albert Aydin.