AT&T customers that own the LG Nitro HD will soon be able to update their phones to Android 4.0. The update was announced today in a blog post on AT&T's site. The software upgrade will also bring a new version of LG's Optimus UI, bringing it to version 3.0. The update goes live on July 31 and is accessible through LG's site.
LG Electronics on Wednesday revealed that its Optimus LTE handsets have sold more than one million units. The Android 2.3 device, touted by its maker as the first that combines an HD touchscreen with LTE for 4G, is sold in Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the US, sometimes under different names. The device sold 600,000 in its first three months on the market in Korea after its October launch last year.
AT&T's Sunday saw two LTE-based 4G Android phones formally reach stores. The LG Nitro HD, unveiled less than a week ago, is the American carrier's version of the Optimus LTE. It keeps to the core design with a 4.5-inch, 720p screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 20GB of internal storage, and both eight-megapixel back as well as 1.3-megapixel front cameras.
Not willing to wait until LG's special event, AT&T on Monday confirmed the existence of the LG Nitro HD. Its adaptation of the Optimus LTE carries the same 4G and dual-core 1.5GHz chip, but is AT&T's first phone to pack a 720p screen. The 4.5-inch AH-IPS LCD should give it a slightly sharper look than the Galaxy Nexus as well as better color accuracy and a 500-nit brightness that's more usable outdoors.
LG on Tuesday detailed a rare special event for itself that hinted at the possible launch of the Nitro HD. The New York City gathering on December 1 has few details other than its mobile focus and an "exclusive launch" for a mystery product. "All will be revealed," the company said.
The LG Optimus LTE smartphone has now arrived at Bell in Canada, and PocketNow is now reporting that it will soon arrive at AT&T in the US. It will be known as the Nitro HD, but otherwise share the same hardware. These include the dual-core, 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, the eight-megapixel camera and its namesake 4G network support.
