It looks like Sony is keeping its promise to upgrade its popular 2011 Xperia model smartphones to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). The official Sony blog announced that there is beta version of Android 4.0 ready for downloading but the update process is more twisted than a pretzel.
If you install this beta Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update, you will lose Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Google Apps as well as the ability to upgrade to the official update later.
The Sony Xperia developer team reported that this new beta ROM has passed some certifications mainly surrounding the modem, FM radio and GSM. However the full public update is scheduled for lat March and later.
Sony previously said that all 2011 Xperia smarpthones would be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
The current beta release is only for Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo and Xperia ray with unlocked bootloaders.
Sony warned:
"Even though a lot of the basic functionality of this ICS beta ROM is working, you should only download and install the beta version if you are an advanced developer. This is not the final software, and the stability of the software may not be ideal as it has not been finally tested and bugfixed."
“You must acknowledge that the software is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.”Also, if you unlock the boot loader, you will not be able to download and install the final Ice Cream Sandwich software upgrade for Xperia™ phones.
New data from Tomi Ahonen showed that Sony (Ericsson)’s market share grew by over two percentage points from 3.2 percent in 2010 to 5.5 percent in 2011. This puts Sony Mobile in sixth position (up one place from last year) overall behind the likes of Apple, Samsung, Nokia, RIM and HTC.
In Q4 Sony Mobile market share was in second place with a 12 percent share, marginally ahead of HTC at 11 percent.
The next Sony Xperia smarpthone will be the Sony Xperia Ion that is loaded with 4G LTE , will work with Sony's HD TV and function as a Sony PlayStation. The Sony Xperia Ion will be Galaxy Nexus-sized and most likely be coming from AT&T.
The Sony Xperia Play was released int he fall of last year, with a slide-out gaming pad. Sony also recently announced the Sony PlayStation Vita a game station and internet surfing device . There is an AT&T version that can connect to AT&T 3G network.