Richard Sapp: Updated: Android 2.3 release date: when will you get it?

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Updated: Android 2.3 release date: when will you get it?

Android 2.3 has been announced by Google, and now owners of smartphones such as the Nexus One and the HTC Desire are eagerly awaiting the update.

There's very little news on when Android 2.3 will roll out at this early stage, although we do know that the first phone to go on sale with Android 2.3 is the successor to the Nexus One, the Google Nexus S.

HTC Desire Android 2.3 update

We've contacted HTC to find out when Android 2.3 will be coming to the HTC Desire (and the HTC Desire HD and the HTC Desire Z).

HTC responded on 7 December to confirm that a number of its phones will be receiving Android 2.3.

"We are excited about the OS update coming for Android, and while HTC will definitely have some phones running this OS, we do not have a specific timeframe for new phones or updates at this time. Please stay tuned for more details," said an HTC spokesperson.

Still no official word on the Desire, but we have to wonder whether the smartphone star is included in "some phones".

Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.3 update

We've also contacted Samsung to ask about the Samsung Galaxy S Android 2.3 update. Samsung replied with the following statement:

"In case a new version of Android operating system is publicly announced and released, Samsung will review the possibility of implementation of such new version to the existing Samsung products with Android operating system ("Update").

"Such a review will be based on various factors including, without limitation, the overall effect of such Update to Samsung products, the system requirements, the structural limitations, and the level of cooperation from the component suppliers and the software licensors.

"If Samsung decides to make the Update available to the users after such consideration, Samsung will use its efforts to develop such Update, which may be released to the users upon successful completion of such development."

In other words: we'll check it out and make a decision then.

LG Optimus One and Optimus Chic Android 2.3 update

This one's not going to happen. In a post on Facebook, LG said: "The Optimus line won't be getting the Gingerbread update because they have a 600MHz processor, and the minimum requirements for Gingerbread require 1 GHz processor. In other words: it's not possible to update the processor, unfortunately."

Stay tuned. We'll bring you more release dates as we get them.