In today’s Android scene, most of the handsets currently available in the market are waiting for their turn to get upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the latest iteration of the Google mobile operating system. However, some devices are realizing that their lives are not as peachy as the others because they are still stuck in the Gingerbread generation and are waiting for their chance to get a tasty treat of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the precursor of Jelly Bean.
One such device is the Verizon Motorola Droid Bionic. A couple of months back, its manufacturer already came out in the open and announced that the handset is still capable enough to get upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich. Furthermore, Motorola even confirmed that the ICS update is projected to land on the handset in Q3. At that time, the manufacturer did not mention any specific time frame as to when exactly the update will hit the Motorola Droid Bionic but there were speculations back then that Motorola was right on track in terms of the development of ICS for the handset. The source of the speculations was a test ICS build for the handset that found in the servers of Motorola. Although not a concrete evidence, the mere existence of the test ICS build for the Motorola Droid Bionic meant that the manufacturer could keep its word of a Q3 ICS rollout for the handset.
Sad to say, Q3 is about to give way to Q4 in just a couple of days but we still haven’t heard about Motorola or Verizon starting the ICS rollout to the Motorola Droid Bionic. It turns out that users of the Motorola Droid Bionic will not be getting that much awaited crank up to ICS this quarter and this piece of news has already been confirmed by Motorola itself.
As it stands, the manufacturer already released its updated ICS roadmap and with this update of the device software upgraded page of Motorola, we finally got the confirmation that the Motorola Droid Bionic will get the upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on Q4 instead. With this confirmation, users of the Motorola Droid Bionic will definitely be in a sorry state especially that they held on to Motorola’s promise of a Q3 ICS rollout for the handset. At this point in time, the least they can do is hope that Motorola doesn’t go missing any more deadlines than necessary.
Regardless of that, the Motorola Droid Bionic is still one capable device despite its aging status. It relies on its Texas Instruments OMAP4430 chipset to power its operation while its dual-core 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and 1GB of RAM work hand in hand in generating the required computing muscle of the device. Storage space on the handset comes up to 16GB with the option to have it expanded using the microSD card slot in the Motorola Droid Bionic’s chassis. As for its display, the Motorola Droid Bionic packs a 4.3-inch TFT panel with a qHD resolution of 540 x 960 pixels while its dual-shooter configuration includes a rear 8MP shooter and a front VGA snapper.
September 26, 2012 at 12:35 pm
They also pledge to make things right for us idiots that bought the bionic. We believed their false a advertising and paid the price. The phone to rule all others has a joke. Come on Motorola! Make it right.
September 26, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I really feel I have been ripped off by Verizon/Motorola. Had I known they would have strung us along for this amount of time I would have returned my phone which is totally unreliable due to constant data drops. I would encourage everyone to voice their dissatisfaction with them so they do not make
this a regular business practice.
September 26, 2012 at 3:50 pm
You’re a bit late with this news and from what it appears, ICS is still not guaranteed for Q4 either. I just got back from the Verizon Wireless store (not an authorized retailer) and they don’t show any upgrade for the Droid Bionic for the next Qtr. They listed several phones, but not the Droid. They also agreed that the ICS update for the Razr and Razr MAXX have many quirks and they’re behind in fixing them as well. But, since I’m a “valued customer”, they would offer me $100 trade in for my phone and waive my early termination fee. But, I’d have to submit to the new data plan. I’m not sure I’m willing to give that up.
September 26, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Motorola is most likely telling lies again! They have lied this long and I bet they are doing it again to exhaust all Bionic owners to get then to shut up. Do you really think they care? Right, it took them this long to even respond and then they push the date back again. They will keep doing so until every one is over it and just keeps quiet and the Bionic is obsolete.
September 27, 2012 at 5:53 am
1.) The Droid Bionic is already obsolete.
2.) Verizon is as much to blame since they keep disapproving upgrade builds by Motorola. This phone is proprietary to Verizon so they have the final word on ICS release, not Motorola.
3.) Verizon would rather have Droid Bionic owners trade in their phone now so they can switch them from their older unlimited data plan. They’ve already offered me $100 trade in and will waive my early termination fee.
4.) Verizon is tossing Motorola under the bus on this issue. At least Motorola finally spoke up while Verizon still ignores the matter.
September 27, 2012 at 9:28 am
This is the last phone I buy that Motorola makes. I have such a bad taste in my mouth over this. As for VZW, I’m already planning to change to Sprint when I buy my new handset because Verizon’s shared data sucks for a single user. When I bought my bionic, I thought I was buying a flagship phone, that would be supported, unlike the Samsung Omnia I previously had. Needless to say, the first RAZR came out about one quarter later, and my phone was forgotten about. First generation RAZR owners receive better support, and more attention than we ever did.
At this point though, I want ICS, and it’s all that has me holding on to my bionic and my VZW plan. I was hoping to not root the device, and get ICS with all the drivers. I’m confident that the rom will improve my phone tremendously as with every other Droid Rom I’ve upgraded before.
Also, I agree heavily with Justin’s post on this issue as to the role VZW plays in all of this.
September 27, 2012 at 9:55 am
Justin, With that trade in offer, what phones are available to you, and can you get the new phone at contract price?
September 27, 2012 at 2:43 pm
I have already moved on to the Windows 8 phone. So much better integration, smooth and very fast. I wont be looking back to Motorila and Verizon. Sometimes it’s just time to move on and pay another piper.
September 27, 2012 at 3:57 pm
@ Katie,
First, you have to visit a Verizon Store, not an authorized reseller. I was there to inquire about my ICS upgrade and the tech behind the counter looked up my phone and told me she didn’t see any upgrades scheduled for the Bioinc in the next quarter. But because I was considered a long valued customer, and that Verizon, (not Motorola) was lagging on the upgrade, they were willing to allow me a $100 trade-in towards any smart phone. In addition, they’d waive the early termination fee. The catch is that I’d enter a new contract with a new start date, and have to leave my unlimited data plan. That didn’t sound like a good deal in the long run so I figure I’ll just wait. This is one of those case by case offers so you may want to call first.
September 27, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I am so disappointed and Verizon and Motorola are waffling every day on if, oops I mean when we will get ICS. Jelly bean is already being installed on new phones and they are still working on an old OS? What kind of stupid is that?
September 27, 2012 at 6:21 pm
I feel like you Justin and Ryan I am have the same bitter taste in mouth from this VZW and Motorola just abbandet us as bionic carriers why we did invest with those two company and nothing in return this not good business from both these companies, I am looking to change VZW on my next contract if I can get out of it I am asking you guys how VZW offered you to redeem eary termination fees I am interested to here that,,, just one last word when you abanded me on the bionic case I will saying to you good bye the only thing is keeping me paying you now is the unlimited data plan and the contract once it is done your gone…..
September 27, 2012 at 7:10 pm
I bought the Bionic the day it released…… and have been unhappy sinc the day after that. It drops data all the time and Motorolla can seem to understand what it takes to make customers happy. I am done with Moto!!
September 27, 2012 at 8:36 pm
we have been lied to since december 2011. promised ics then and nothing but lies since. people will not forgive being lied to for months. i do not want anything from motoola or verizon. this is close to a beach of contract wnd will certainly end up class action suit.
September 27, 2012 at 8:59 pm
And what about the Verizon sales guy who told me when he sold me the Bionic a year ago that ICS would be available on the Bionic in October 2011?
Check the changes to your new plan before upgrading your phone. I have and I will be using this phone for a long time.
One thing I can tell you for sure: Although I have been using Motorola cell phones since I first started using a cell phone in 1995, I cannot see myself EVER getting a Motorola product again. And if Verizon messes around with my plan, I will ditch them too — also after 17+ years.
Customer satisfaction is apparently low on their lists of priorities. I think the time to buy puts on Verizon stock will begin soon.
September 27, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Last Motorola phone I get. Will be moving on to Samsung next year when I get my upgrade. Been a loyal Motorola user for years and waited patiently for the Bionic to finaly get released, but am now fed up with Motorola.
September 27, 2012 at 11:19 pm
if you go back many years you will find motorola has been failing customers. this could be their final failure.
September 28, 2012 at 7:13 am
If you want ics you can flash it on your phone with out rooting your it.
September 28, 2012 at 10:43 am
FYI, the official Motorola upgrade announcements page is here:
https://forums.motorola.com/pages/00add97d6c