Last week we told you about the leaked version of the Android 4.0.4 update that was available to users of the Google Nexus S 4G who could install it onto their CDMA version of the handset, but now the official Android ICS update is live.
The update has begun it’s rollout to the CDMA Nexus S 4G and according to the Android Community if you are still using the stock Android Gingerbread OS you have to check your settings menu to see if the update is available in your region yet.
Owners of the GSM version of the smartphone first got a taste of Android 4.0 last December, but it was quickly pulled for more testing, and other versions of the Nexus hardware got the Android 4.0.4 update last week but CDMA devices were left out.
While the Nexus S 4G is the first CDMA device to get some Android 4.0.4 love, users on Verizon who own the Galaxy Nexus LTE or Xoom has been left waiting. Owners of the CDMA version of the Xoom will be more frustrated as they are still stuck on Android Honeycomb if they haven’t strayed from the official software releases.
Google has decided not to offer the same level of support to CDMA devices compared to Wi-Fi or GSM versions, and using a CDMA device it needs unique software key that is different for each network, which means it can’t be open source. This meant that the CDMA Xoom and Galaxy Nexus were dropped from the list of official developer devices not long after the first batch of consumers invested their cash in the hardware.
This situation with carriers and manufacturers seemingly abandoning relatively new hardware with regards to software updates will further damage the Android platform, and leave many owners frustrated. Have you received the Android 4.0.4 update on your Nexus S 4G?