The second tablet to receive the long awaited Android 4.0 update will be Motorola’s Xoom Wi-Fi tablet, with the update being pushed out as an OTA update.

The update pushes the software version to IML77 and takes full advantage of the new operating system, being that the Xoom was the reference device for the previous Android version in Android Honeycomb. The update is also notable for being available pre-rooted for those looking to maintain such access for maximum customization options and functionality not yet available officially on stock Android 4.0 or as the gateway to custom ROMs. of which many are also available.

While this update does signal that life does remain in the original Motorola Xoom, what is not yet known is whether the same updates will be provided to the LTE version of the tablet.

When the tablet was initially announced last January, the hardware and sales copy indicated compatibility with Verizon’s then new LTE network, but the actual tablet was not capable of accessing the then new network at its launch in February.  The initial plan was for Verizon to launch the Xoom LTE without the LTE hardware in order to avoid lengthy delays while Motorola prepared the LTE modules for a late Spring/early Summer 2011 launch.

However, additional delays in LTE hardware production ironically forced more delays on the intended free upgrade program past the initial timeframe, to the point that Verizon was forced to relaunch the tablet in October of 2011 with the LTE hardware included in order to drive already slow sales, while the upgrade program for those that bought the Xoom LTE at launch wasn’t completed until later that month, almost six months after its original upgrade timeframe was first announced.

Now with the availability of the Droid Xyboard/Xoom 2 in Verizon’s lineup, it remains to be seen whether the carrier will bother updating the Xoom LTE, as they can be easily found on the myriad of deal-a-day websites for an average of 30-40% off of their MSRP while Verizon slowly moves away from supporting the tablet in favor of newer tablets.

Of course, this also raises the question of what kind of carrier support can be expected for tablets in general, as T-Mobile abandoned support for its version of the Dell Streak 7 due to low sales while Dell continuously updated its Wi-Fi only versions.

With carriers continuously releasing Android tablets in order to compete in the marketplace with more power and more features at the expense of low overall sales and lower consumer awareness, long-term support means the difference between having a satisfied customer base that would be willing to buy more from that carrier and having people completely skip over an entire product line.

Unfortunately, with the compressed development and release cycles that have become the norm for Android smartphones and tablets, having timely consistent updates being made available for older devices are now a much lower priority for carriers than developing and selling new devices with new features, as evidenced by the launch of the Droid Xyboard series shortly after the relaunch of the Xoom 4G, despite the Xyboard 10.1 and Xoom 4G being priced identically.

Over the past month, Verizon has been discounting LTE batteries. However, it was at times hard, and impossible to lock in the deal.

We initially reported the half-off battery pricing with the HTC Rezound in a previous article, but the discounts were giving users errors. Namely, if a user was logged into VerizonWireless.com, they often were charged the full price for the battery at checkout. Now, it appears all issues are fixed, and the discounts are showing up for all users.

It appears Verizon is discounting the cost of batteries on LTE smartphones as a tactic acknowledgement of the significant battery drain users are encountering. The discount also applies to extended batteries on phones that support them, such as the LG Revolution, Droid Bionic, and HTC Thunderbolt.

Customers have complained about the power drain from Verizon’s LTE network. The error is not on the part of Verizon, who was pressured by partner Vodafone to embrace LTE over rival standards. LTE is inherently going to drain more power as all other 4G standards do. Orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA, or OFDM), the technology and practices that are shared nearly by all 4G standards in some form, demand high power consumption currently. Older standards such as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) are able to achieve high speeds with higher latency, and slower real-world bandwidth rates.

At around $20 for an extended battery, the offer is something we have taken advantage of already in the office. LTE power consumption is a major issue, especially with features like Mobile Hotspot. I personally use a Droid Bionic and now have three batteries; two standard and one extended, with a desktop Motorola battery charger. The $45 cost for two additional batteries costs almost as much as the $39 battery charger (which oddly, Verizon does not sell on their online store).

Batteries alone however cannot help one phone; the Droid RAZR, which lacks a removable battery. Motorola is reportedly preparing an alternative Droid RAZR maxx model, continuing the RAZR maxx nameplate with a faster processor (matching Droid Bionic) and extended battery, with possibly an improved camera.

In an email to members of the Motorola Feedback Network, Motorola has confirmed that it is in the final stages of development for a new update meant for the Verizon Motorola Xoom 4G that improves pay as you go support for monthly data access. The update is intended as an invisible maintenance update and is not expected to include any other major changes. Continue reading for the full letter.

Hi again.

Thanks very much for signing up to give feedback about your Motorola Xoom on Verizon. You will be testing final software for your LTE Xoom. Despite the wild rumors about ICS, this is a very limited update providing improved support for pay-as-you-go customers on Verizon. It should be essentially “invisible” in terms of device operation.

Because of this, we will be looking for feedback on two primary questions:

• Did you update successfully?
• If yes, did the update alter your device in any unexpected way?

We feel this software is safe and ready, but your input will provide the data we need to make a go/no-go decision. Here are key points to know:

• I will send out another email with a survey where you can provide your answers to these two questions.
• It will come within a few hours of when the software begins to be pushed to your phones.
• That push is expected around mid-day tomorrow.
• Please do not post comments on public sites about this update; instead provide your input through the survey I will provide.
• Please do respond to the survey by Friday morning. We expect to make our decision to release this update later that day

Do not send emails to this account or PM me unless I ask you to do so. General questions sent to either place will go unanswered — put your questions and comments in the survey please.

Thanks again for your confidentiality and participation. Your help with updates like this certainly counts in your favor when other test opportunities arise.

Regards,

- Matt
Motorola Owners’ Forums
Motorola Feedback Network

[via AndroidCentral]

Update: Verizon has posted the changelog that mentions the update on its support page for the tablet and can be seen below:

Today only, Virgin Mobile is offering half off the Motorola Triumph and LG Optimus Slider. These two devices are currently Virgin Mobile’s flagship Android smartphones.

In addition, Virgin Mobile left the coupon code SAVE20 active, for an additional 20% off the sale price. When combined, you get 60% off the suggested retail price for the devices.

When combined, you can purchase a Motorola Triumph and LG Optimus Slider for $219, which is around the same price as the Optimus Slider alone at retail.

Currently the LG Optimus Slider is running Android 2.3, Gingerbread, while the Motorola Triumph is running Android 2.2. However, the Triumph features a larger screen, faster performance, and HDMI output.

Virgin Mobile

Following the European launch of the Xoom 2 earlier this month with no real details on a US launch, the first details on the US version have surfaced along with future branding changes.  Continue reading for all of the details and analysis.

The Motorola Xoom 2 will undergo a change in branding and identity to distance it from the Xoom branding used on the first generation of tablets in the US, with Verizon filing the trademark for the XYBoard brand in the last month. Following recent trends set by Samsung to differentiate different versions of the same tablet family by display size, the first two tablets will be known as the Motorola XYBoard 8.2 and XYBoard 10.1 with prominent Verizon Wireless branding.

As far as specifications are concerned, the first model in the XYBoard series in the 8.2 will feature a 1.2GHz dual-core processor running Android Honeycomb with the inclusion of an LTE radio, fixing the most glaring issue present in the first Xoom model, namely the lack of a built-in LTE radio and needing to undertake a shipping program in order to have Xoom 4G tablets fitted with LTE modules, a process fraught with delays and numerous other issues.

With Verizon and Motorola undertaking another major push to promote LTE Android tablets, the Motorola XYBoard series looks to rectify the mistakes made with the first version in terms of hardware design  and software. However, it remains to be seen whether the XYBoard series will be enough to spur sales and lure customers away from the increasing spate of similar Android tablets.

With the branding change being front and center, it also signals Verizon and Motorola’s desire to move away from the Xoom brand, damaged by lower than expected sales and poor perception thanks to the high cost of the original tablet and the botched release plan of the 4G LTE version.

With Motorola and Verizon working together again on the new tablet line, time will tell whether attempt number 2 will signal success for both companies or if it will languish in the wake of the iPad 2, which is considerably more popular than any current Android tablet, both in terms of marketshare and usage metrics.

As Verizon also sells the iPad, one also questions why they would spend more time and money on developing more Android tablets, as the current sales numbers reflect that the money spent on developing such devices isn’t reflected in increased sales or profit unless one takes into account purchases made by the minority Android hacking community.

The Android mod and developer community is the perfect audience for such tablets as the XYBoard based on hardware potential alone, but are Verizon and Motorola targeting the same general consumers that were driven away by the first Xoom series, or are they conceding that market to Apple and focusing on enterprise and enthusiast customers? If the former, then expect more of the same lack of visibility and lack of sales volume that effectively killed the first Xoom in the US.

However, if they are deliberately going after the corporate customer and the enthusiast, this new series may effectively revive Verizon and Motorola’s attempts to sell Android tablets to the masses, by focusing on the ones that would care about the product to begin with.

After quietly re-launching the original Xoom with a “Family Edition”, Motorola has announced the Xoom 2, it’s true successor to the Xoom.

Where as the Xoom Family Edition was a Xoom with additional applications bundled, the Xoom 2 delivers true improvements. Externally, the device resembles the original Xoom, but features all-new hardware, with a dual-core 1.2 GHz CPU, and enhanced graphics with a Gorilla Glass-protected display.

Attempting to cater to business audiences, the tablet will continue to grow its connectivity, with built-in USB and Ethernet. However, no word yet on if the product will ship with support for the Webtop interface. Motorola has said that all future flagship smartphones will ship with Webtop, but has not elaborated if tablets will also include Webtop.

Webtop is Motorola’s Linux-based alternative operating system, which allows users to swap Android with a real-time OS when a keyboard, mouse, and video-out is present.

The Android 3.2 Honeycomb device will be upgraded to Android 4.0 in 2012. No word yet if this will be extended to the original XOOM.

Following up on a previous report detailing Motorola’s confirmation of plans to roll out Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich Android update to the Motorola Xoom, Motorola has further confirmed its plans for Ice Cream Sandwich updates and a timeframe for even more devices via its Twitter account. With the confirmation that more devices will receive the update shortly after Google makes the source available to the public in six weeks following the release of the Galaxy Nexus, the initial confirmation of the Xoom, Bionic and Droid RAZR stands as the first wave of Motorola devices to get the long awaited update.

Verizon has begun to roll out Android Gingerbread for both the Droid 2 Global and the Droid Pro with both OTA and manual updates available. Both the Droid Pro and Droid 2 Global have multi-touch keyboard support enabled with the update as well as a task manager and full encryption for the SD card and internal memory. Both changelogs are posted at the Continue reading link.

Droid 2 Global Android Gingerbread Update
Enhancements:
+ Download Manager App:
New App to manage all of your downloads from web browsing,
email attachments and other apps.
+ App and Power Management Details:
Under Manage Applications, a new “Running” tab displays a list of active
applications and the storage and memory being used by each.
+ Multi-Touch Key-Chording:
New ability to enter numbers and symbols with keyboard shortcut combos,
instead of having to change to the numeric keyboard mode.
+ Improved Word Selection and Copy Functionality:
New capability to select a word via press-hold. A second press of
the selected word copies the selected characters.
+ New User Interface and Color Scheme:
New widgets, icons and screens with refreshed colors.
+ Dock Icons:
Static Phone, App Launcher and Contacts icons are replaced within a
customizable dock. Three swappable icons and the App Launcher icon
are fixed to the Dock at the bottom of all home screen panels for easy
and instant access.
+ App Groups:
New App Menu allows creation of custom app groups, in addition to 3
default groups: All Apps, Recent and Downloaded.
+ Security:
Added Device and SD Card encryption. VPN enhancements integrate
IPSec VPN clients into device security settings.
+ Updated Calendar Options:
• Display Calendar and event times in your home time zone when traveling.
• Dismiss individual reminders, such as dismissing one meeting reminder
without dismissing other meeting reminders.
• Easy conference dialing – simply dial and automatically enter a
conference code directly from your Calendar.YOUR DROID 2 GLOBAL BY MOTOROLA
JUST GOT EVEN BETTER.
DROID is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. and its related companies. Used under license. Standard data charges apply. Device capabilities: add’l charges and conditions apply. © 2011 Verizon Wireless. 0911-E1829
Droid 2 Global by Motorola in White
Additional Improvements:
Email and Messaging
+ Sporadic issues with unintended recipient list corrected for text,
picture, video and audio multimedia messages.
+ Exchange ActiveSync calendar events created on the device will now
push to your PC calendar.
+ POP3/IMAP emails now show the correct date stamp.
New ActiveSync Email Policy Support for the following:
+ Data encryption for both the internal and SD card memory.
+ Require manual synchronization while roaming.
+ Allow HTML email.
Additional Device Features
+ Improvements in stability prevent lockups, resets and force
close errors.
+ Bluetooth® devices will now select the correct audio recording level for
optimal voice capture and alert you when your audio level is too low.
+ Improved battery life while using Bluetooth.
+ Access My Verizon without any force close errors.
+ Reset Backup Assistant under Manage Applications menu.
+ Enhanced connectivity when roaming in GSM/UMTS networks
(Europe and India).
+ Improved battery life during Wi-Fi use.
+ Exchange ActiveSync encryption fails after OTA update.
Preloaded Apps and Programs
+ Google Books
+ Accuweather
+ Amazon MP3 Store
+ Blockbuster®
+ Adobe® Flash® Player 10.2

Droid Pro Android Gingerbrad Update
Enhancements:
+ Download Manager App:
New App to manage all of your downloads from web browsing, email attachments
and other apps.
+ App and Power Management Details:
Under Manage Applications, a new “Running” tab displays a list of active
applications and the storage and memory being used by each.
+ Multi-Touch Key-Chording:
New ability to enter numbers and symbols with keyboard shortcut combos,
instead of having to change to the numeric keyboard mode.
+ Improved Word Selection and Copy Functionality:
New capability to select a word via press-hold. A second press of
the selected word copies the selected characters.
+ New User Interface and Color Scheme:
New widgets, icons and screens with refreshed colors.
+ Dock Icons:
Static Phone, App Launcher and Contacts icons are replaced within a customizable
dock. Three swappable icons and the App Launcher icon are fixed to the dock at
the bottom of all home screen panels for easy and instant access.
+ App Groups:
New App Menu allows creation of custom app groups, in addition to 3 default groups:
All Apps, Recent and Downloaded.
DROID Pro by MotorolaDROID is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd and its related companies. Used under license. Standard data charges may apply. © 2011 Verizon Wireless. 1011-D7087
For step-by-step instructions on how to perform
the download, please visit verizonwireless.com/droidprosupport
DROID Pro by Motorola
+ Updated Calendar Options:
• Display Calendar and event times in your home time zone when traveling.
• Dismiss individual reminders, such as dismissing one meeting reminder without
dismissing other meeting reminders.
• Easy conference dialing – simply dial and automatically enter a conference
code directly from your Calendar.
• Update Calendar appointments using Exchange ActiveSync without deleting them.
+ Google Books now comes preloaded.
+ Geo-tagging features available for camera applications.
Other improvements:
+ Improved contact syncing from multiple email accounts.
+ Improved battery life while using Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth®.
+ Correct contact name is displayed when receiving SMS messages.
+ Forward SMS message conversations correctly.
+ Mobile Hotspot status is displayed accurately.
+ Clock widget updates time correctly.
+ GPS apps and programs no longer cause unnecessary device resets.
+ V CAST Media Manager now comes preloaded.

Motorola representatives have confirmed that another recent Android smartphone in their lineup will be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich in 2012 along with their latest flagship in the Droid RAZR. In a conversation on Facebook Motorola has confirmed that it will update the Droid Bionic to Ice Cream Sandwich, with more specific details such as rollout scheduling and timing to be confirmed.

As the latest Android update continues to make its presence felt after first being announced earlier this week, more and more manufacturers are confirming plans to update phones to the new version of Android, though others, such as HTC are taking a more measured approach and refusing to immediately confirm plans to release hardware or updates at this time.

Motorola has officially announced the forthcoming launch of the DROID RAZR, making it the successor to the X2.

The DROID RAZR features a Gorilla Glass fronted 4.3-inch qHD resolution Super AMOLED display underpinned by a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, LTE radio, an 8.0 megapixel rear camera capable of 1080p HD video capture, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage with 16GB additional on the pre-installed microSD card and Lapdock 100/500 Pro support.

As part of the software bundle, SmartActions software has been pre-loaded to manage  battery life in real-time. A new personal cloud feature being included is called MotoCast. Video, photos, documents and music can be streamed straight to the phone from any Wi-Fi enabled PC as well as Citrix Receiver, Motorola Webtop and videoconferencing abilities for corporate users. The biggest changes to the hardware center on the lack of a user-removable battery as well as a Kevlar coating on the rear of the back plate.

The phone will be launched on Verizon next month for $299.99 after new 2 year agreement with pre-orders beginning on October 27th.