HTC: Not all phones to get Android ICS update

Not all HTC smartphones running Google's Android may be eligible to upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), the operating system's latest version. In an announcement on its Facebook page, HTC said its new Vivid handset is upgradeable to ICS, while an initial list of models may get the upgrade in 2012. "We can confirm the brand new HTC Vivid, on sale beginning today, is upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich. In addition, Ice Cream Sandwich is coming in early 2012 to a variety of devices," it said. The devices that can receive ICS in 2012 include:

• Sensation
• Sensation XL
• Sensation XE
• Rezound
• EVO 3D
• EVO Design 4G
• Amaze 4G

Upgrades will be through close integration with HTC's carrier partners. "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," it said. A separate article on The Next Web said the unavailablity of ICS for other models may be due to the possibility the lower-powered models may not operate optimally (http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2011/11/07/htc-confirms-first-wave-of-smartphones-to-receive-android-4-0-update/). It added HTC wants to bundle its Sense UI and additional features, and thus may have decided to restrict the update to its higher-powered smartphones for now. — TJD, GMA News