HTC Ice Cream Sandwich updates slip to late March

And an even longer wait for some handsets

HTC smartphone owners: you should be getting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates at the end of next month - if you have an unlocked Sensation or Sensation XE.

That's a little later than anticipated. Back in November 2011, HTC eagerly promised ICS updates would appear "early 2012".

Now, the aforementioned smartphones will get ICS first, followed by the Sensation XL "soon thereafter", HTC said.

If you own an Incredible S, Desire S or Desire HD, you'll have a longer wait: ICS is coming to these phones "later this year", HTC admitted, but promised to clarify release dates and provide upgrade information for other handsets "in the coming weeks".

As we say, this schedule almost certainly applies to phones not tied to a given network operator - handsets that are may take longer to upgrade, if they're given ICS at all.

Google released its ICS code to phone and tablet makers in November 2011. Upgrade release timeframe extensions made not only by HTC but also other Android gadget makers suggests they're having a tougher time adapting the code to their devices than they first thought. ®