HTC Adds Android to Sensation Next Month

The Taiwanese phone maker's new handset will be identical to the current Sensation except for its color and software. The ICS operating system will give users the ability to unlock the device with facial recognition, a new user interface for the camera app, and several other new features.

The white version of the Sensation will first hit the Netherlands. HTC also said the current Sensation will be getting an update to Android 4.0 "soon".

Analysts have given ICS extremely positive reviews and praised it as the cleanest version of the Android OS yet. The software has been the premier selling point of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus, but until now, the platform had been unique to the device.

Manufacturers have been hard at work tweaking their custom skins to work with ICS, which has led to a delay in software updates for devices that launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. HTC promised users last year ICS would make its way onto many of its devices in early 2012, and the Sensation's announcement is just the start of the company's plans.

Devices like the HTC Vivid, Sensation XL, Rezound, EVO 3D, Evo Design 4G and Amaze 4G are all slated to receive the update soon as well.

HTC's proactive decision and its push to incorporate ICS in its devices will likely give the carrier an advantage over its competitors. The move improves the company's reputation with smartphone owners who want the newest software as soon as possible, and more importantly, it improves the value of several of the devices it has on the market.

Once the update rolls out for more of HTC's smartphones, its handsets will be the most attractive on the market for those looking for the newest version of Android.

Samsung and Motorola will likely update many of their devices to ICS as well, but their plans are not as definitive as HTC's. The white Sensation will kick off HTC's plans for ICS and will likely result in strong sales for the manufacturer.