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Samsung Galaxy S2 Ice Cream Sandwich update hits Three

Numerical UK network Three has confirmed that its update to Android 4.0 for the Galaxy S2 has gone live.

Luke Westaway Senior editor
Luke Westaway is a senior editor at CNET and writer/ presenter of Adventures in Tech, a thrilling gadget show produced in our London office. Luke's focus is on keeping you in the loop with a mix of video, features, expert opinion and analysis.
Luke Westaway
2 min read

Numerical UK network Three has confirmed to CNET UK that its Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Samsung Galaxy S2 is now live.

That means the update, which is being beamed out to SIM-free S2 devices in the UK as of yesterday, should now start arriving on S2s that were bought through Three. That's right S2 owners, it's finally happening.

We saw comments on earlier stories from Galaxy S2 owners who said they'd already received the update via Three, so put the question to the network. Now we have confirmation that it's out there, though some of you have commented on our Facebook wall that the update hasn't arrived yet.

My advice is to be patient -- the update should be with you shortly, bringing niceties like face unlock and a silky new multi-tasking system. The update itself isn't a massive overhaul, but with Ice Cream Sandwich having been floating around in the wild since mid-November, I can see why S2 owners are itching to secure their update.

Three's release puts the network in first place in the Great Ice Cream Sandwich Race, ahead of O2, which told us the update-date was "expected to be at the end of March".

T-Mobile issued a statement saying "we're working to make our build available as close to Samsung's release date as possible". Vodafone is keeping schtum.

Phones bought through networks generally take longer to get updates, because operators need to ensure the box-fresh version of Android is compliant with any (doubtlessly unwelcome) apps they've pre-installed on your mobile.

It's also not really in the networks' interest to send you fresh updates, because being lumbered with a stale old phone could prompt you to upgrade, tying you into another long contract and showering a network exec with big piles of money while they laugh loudly, eat all your favourite foods and make faces at your pets. I'm pretty sure that's what happens.

Has your Galaxy S2 been graced with Ice Cream Sandwich yet? Are you slavering for a scoop of Android 4.0, or can you not understand people's cravings for the latest version? Sound off in the comments, or over on our Facebook wall. And if you're wondering what you're missing, check out Natasha's video.

Watch this: Galaxy S2 Ice Cream Sandwich vs Gingerbread