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Motorola: No Android 4.0 Update for Atrix 4G, Photon 4G, Electrify Smartphones

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Motorola Mobility had released a statement with some bad news for owners of the Android-powered Motorola Atrix 4G (AT&T), Motorola Photon 4G (Sprint), and the Motorola Electrify smartphones. Those devices, unfortunately, would not be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, though Motorola is committing to continue supporting those devices with maintenance updates to ensure optimal performance. According to the company on its own forums, “Motorola Mobility continues to review how each device can deliver the very best experience possible, and at times, this can mean making tough choices – especially as it relates to Android software upgrades.”

motorola-atrix-4gAs part of Motorola’s commitment to become more transparent with the software update process now that it has been acquired–and is fully owned by Google–the company is updating customers as soon as possible with the status of software updates. Also, as those devices, which were released in 2011, won’t be getting upgraded, Motorola has pledged to keep customers happy by giving them a $100 rebate:

Today, we need to let you know about some tough choices related to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades. Specifically, ATRIX 4G, Photon 4G and Electrify will not receive the ICS upgrade, but continue to be supported with maintenance releases to ensure optimum performance for the consumer.

We are committed to being more transparent than ever on our software upgrade strategy – even when we’re delivering news consumers may not want to hear. We are doing everything possible to continually improve our communication with you and make sure you are a satisfied customer. That’s why we recently announced our $100 rebate program for owners of these and other devices launched in 2011 and beyond that won’t get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. This program starts in the U.S. this fall, and we are working to expand it to select regions around the world. Please watch for updates at motorola.com/tradeup.

Typically, the decision on whether or not to roll out a software update for devices rests with the manufacturer and the carrier.

16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. Chris

    10/01/2012 at 5:38 am

    What is funny is I have an Atrix 4G running ICS and it works better than Gingerbread did on it.

  2. dave

    10/01/2012 at 5:45 am

    The $100 trade back is rubbish, at least make it $200.

  3. Kenny Roman (@kendoggy)

    10/01/2012 at 7:01 am

    I agree, 200$ should at least cover enough for the mistake some of us made buying this garbage (photon) phone.

  4. Bill

    10/01/2012 at 7:27 am

    This is bizarre. The Atrix was a flagship dual-core at CES and 18 months later it is effectively dropped? And then in the second paragraph they go on to talk about how committed they are? Committed to forcing a new phone purchase for a device that has plenty of horsepower.

  5. Kevin

    10/01/2012 at 7:31 am

    I know I have been patient about ICS, then a couple weeks ago a strikenly differant phone hit the market. It has a slide out qwerty keyboard and looks kinda like my Photon… Way to be corporate Sprint and Motorolla! Without the keyboard it’s the same device.. That would be the real reason to snuff ICS4.0 on these more than capable devices. How much do i have to pay Sprint for an early upgrade to get ICS. What 50 bucks. Then pay for a new device because my perfectly fine Photon wont see an upgrade. Money grubbing bleep holes!

  6. Christian

    10/01/2012 at 10:32 am

    #motofail!

    Broken commitments…my wallet will do the talking, Moto. …and it won’t be talking to you!

  7. Max Sinclair

    10/01/2012 at 2:17 pm

    I got the Atrix 4g launch week. I have loved this phone and was hoping to keep it around for quite some time. I recognized that as an early adopter of such technology that I would likely have some issues, what I didnt expect was to be abandoned by the manufacturer before my contract is even up. I am not eligible for an upgrade for quite a while yet, and I was planning on keeping this phone for a long time after I was eligible for an upgrade. No I just feel somewhat betrayed that we were lead to believe that Moto was working on a 4.0 upgrade for us, only to find out after their original timeframe (they were supposed to push the update Q3 2012) that we wont be getting the update.

    To top it all off, they did push an update recently that prevents us from modding the phone to suit out needs. You dont want to support an update to the phone, fine; but it was an awful move to prevent anyone else from providing what you failed to provide.

    In the words of a younger generation: Thats a pretty dick move Motorola.

    Motorola, you are really harshing my xen thing. I do believe that I am sworn off Motorola forever, Samsung and Apple may now compete directly for my business.

    • Wilson M da Penha Jr

      10/19/2012 at 2:18 pm

      That is what all U.S. Tech company’s like to do with customers, they just kick your but, say sorry for that, I bought two Atrix 4G, one for and other for my wife, and also a lot of accessories (Lap-dock, Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and headset), now I get this punch in the face by Motorola saying that this phones can be dump to trash bcz they are now declared as a piece of crap, I paid almost US$ 2k for this, and now who will want this

      I done buying Motorola, I’ll sell all of it and try to get Samsung SIII, bcz I hate Apple as well.

  8. Jens W.

    10/02/2012 at 4:37 am

    Yep, never purchase another Motorola again, Samsung here I come. I know ICS can run on the device, there are plenty of ROMs out there and most users report that it runs better than the stock OS. I guess I’ll try one of those until my contract runs out.

  9. Lorenz

    10/02/2012 at 11:54 am

    Yes, byebye Motorola, hey, if you don’t want my money, just say so. Why should I buy another highend phone form your company? Was the Atrix too good, and your managers decided that you need to not support it, to sell more newer phones? Well, if so: you won’t sell a new motorola phone to me!

    Regards,

    Lorenz

  10. Joe w

    10/02/2012 at 1:48 pm

    What a load of crap !!!I They strung us along for 6 months about this ICS update and now NO update???? Soon as my contract is up I’m going with Verizon and samsung. I’ve been a Sprint customer for 12 years. This will be my first and last Motorola product. The phone is perfectly capable of handling the update. Just another slick move by the greedy fat cats to sell more phones. I guess I’ll take my business to the other greedy fat cats andto wait for them to let me down. The whole effin world is gone to crap and everybody’s after the all-mighty dollar… thank goodness I don’t run my business that way or I would not have very many customers.

  11. JW

    10/02/2012 at 3:40 pm

    MOTOROLA Unlock our Photon bootloader and allow open source software to do the rest!!

  12. ITBuckyWI

    10/04/2012 at 6:11 pm

    Just a kick in the teeth! Upon losing my Treo, I patiently waited for the Mofo Atrix to become available through AT&T…Never AGAIN! I believe I will be using the company $20 flip phone and keep my land-line…I am really considering a lawsuit, for misrepresentation and misleading advertising against Motorola and AT&T. Anybody with me?

    • dlab79

      10/08/2012 at 2:51 pm

      I really wish someone would sue them. They should have to pay the cancellation fee for you. Or allow you to upgrade now and apply that $100 credit towards a new phone. Its awful they treat their customers this way.

  13. Smitty

    10/15/2012 at 12:15 pm

    With Windows 8 just around the corner, I am very much looking forward to a new Windows Phone, a Windows Slate Tablet, and never looking back at Android again. I got the Photon as a replacement to my Touch Pro 2, and have regretted that move ever since. I too have been on Sprint for 12 years , and will be happy to finally make the switch to whatever provider offers the best deal on a new Windows phone.
    My dollars are leaving Motorola and Sprint forever.

  14. Dana

    12/16/2012 at 2:02 pm

    MOTOROLA GO TO HELL !
    You said you will update the device, you losers. The Atrix is a very capable piece of hardware. I bought this phone, like many others, cause you said you’ll update it.
    I thought that if Google acquired Motorola Mobile, at least they will behave better but no……Google, seems to be just the same garbage. I hope someone will develop another OS for phones int he future and I guess I’ll better buy Windows Phones or Bada OS or whatever else than android. You suck totally, Googlerolla, you worth no money, further. At least not from me, or other alike, who feel fooled by this pathetic moves.

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