Android 4.0 starts hitting unlocked Galaxy S II units
updated 11:40 am EDT, Tue April 17, 2012
Samsung Galaxy S II unlocked gets OS update
Samsung on Tuesday started rolling out the Android 4.0 upgrade for unlocked versions of the Galaxy S II. Those whose phones were bought SIM-free, or unattached to any carrier, should have the option of updating through the Kies desktop app. Multiple European carriers had already seen their carrier-locked versions get updates sooner.
The unlocked models were held until the end as Samsung wanted to test for all carriers first. Some adopters had assumed Android 4.0 would arrive first on unlocked models as they don't have carrier-specific apps to check.
A significant amount of other carriers, including all US carriers, have yet to roll out Android 4.0 on the Galaxy S II. Canada is expected to get its updates within weeks. The insistences of American carriers on customized hardware, however, will likely leave theirs as some of the last to get the improvements.
Regardless of network, the software revamp preserves the TouchWiz interface with few signs of 4.0 on the surface, although it does add Face Unlock, support for newer apps like Chrome for Android, and similar behind-the-scenes upgrades.
