By March, Samsung Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note owners will get the much-anticipated and much-needed Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update, the latest and greatest version of Android yet.
According to Samsung Norway, the two high-end Android phones sporting the Samsung branding with the custom Samsung TouchWiz user interface are expected to receive the over the air update that will include the Android 4.0 running Samsung’s skin, and the new operating system’s features like the multitasking, faster and more stable web browser and the improved applications support.
No word yet about the Android ICS release date, but Samsung’s Norway branch said the planned release is first quarter of this year. Samsung explains (translated), “Samsung plans to launch Android Ice Cream Sandwich to the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note at the end of the first quarter of this year. When more info comes we will add it here on our Facebook page!”
Next month, Samsung and AT&T will release the LTE-equipped Galaxy Note, but it is highly possible that the international HSPA+ version will get the update first before the United States variants, including the Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T Galaxy S2 phones.
The international HSPA+ Galaxy Note is currently sporting the tag price of $750 (unlocked), while the Samsung Galaxy S2 is currently priced online at $600. The U.S Galaxy Note and Galaxy S2 feature capacitive buttons, while their international counterparts are sporting a physical home button, and two capacitive buttons, the back and menu.
Last month, the Android 4.0 (alpha build) ROM for the Galaxy S2 and Note were leaked online.
Samsung is currently selling the only Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich phone in the market, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and the company is expected to introduce its 2012 flagship Galaxy phone that is reportedly shipping with Android Ice Cream Sandwich, the Galaxy S3.
