The Verizon and T-Mobile versions of the Samsung Galaxy S III Android phone have already received OS updates to Android 4.1 “Jellybean,” and now AT&T S III owners can update their phones as well. 

AT&T will not make the S III Android 4.1 update available over-the-air; the update requires you to download and install a piece of software called Samsung Kies which performs the update via sync on PCs and Macs.  You can download Samsung Kies here, or visit Samsung’s update page to learn more about the new features and the upgrade process.

This leaves just Verizon Wireless S III users waiting to be updated to Jellybean.  No word yet on when that update is expected to drop.

The forth-generation Nexus smartphone from Google is, not surprisingly, the Nexus 4.  This Android-powered phone is built by LG, and offers many high-end features in a relatively inexpensive package.

T-Mobile will sell the Nexus 4 for $199 with a two-year contract; no surprise there.  But Google also sells an unlocked GSM version for $100 more.  That’s a brand new, unlocked Nexus phone for $299 with no contract. 

Features include a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 4.7-inch touchscreen, an 8MP primary camera, NFC, and the latest version of the Android OS, v4.2 "Jelly Bean." The phone is available with either 8GB or 16GB of internal flash storage.  However, it does not have LTE.

The Nexus 4 is getting great, glowing reviews.

Learn more about the LG Nexus 4 smartphone here…

We don’t know when it’ll ship or how much it’ll cost, but today AT&T announced that it will offer Sony’s Xperia XL Android phone.

The Xperia XL  will sadly ship with Android 4.0, but apparently will be updated to 4.1 shortly after release (we’ll believe that when we see it).  But there are some other goodies to mitigate the older OS blues: a dual-core 1.5GHz S4 SoC, a 4.6-inch Bravia 720p HD touchscreen display, and a whopping 13MP primary camera.  Other features include NFC with SmartTag, LTE and HSPA+ network support, and a 720p front-facing camera for video chats.

We’ll keep you updated as new information is released.

Nokia’s adoption of Windows Phone has, as yet, yielded less than outstanding results, but the company is pressing on, planning to announce two Windows Phone 8 handsets at a press event scheduled for September 5th, just as Microsoft finalizes the second full version of their smartphone OS.

The first Windows Phone 8 smartphones on Nokia’s calendar are said to be codenamed Arrow and Phi, both in the Lumia family that now includes the Lumia 900 and Lumia 710.  It’s possible that the Arrow and Phi will be given similar numerical names upon release.

AT&T will be selling the Phi, a high-end model similar to the Lumia 900, with LTE onboard.  The Arrow, a mid-range Windows Phone 8 handset from Nokia, will debut at both AT&T and T-Mobile according to The Verge – LTE details unknown.

Nokia is also rumored to have a CDMA/LTE Windows Phone 8 device, codenamed Atlas, in the works.  It will be headed for Verizon later this year. 

The Samsung Galaxy S III / Galaxy S3 Android phone is available from each of the four major U.S. wireless carriers, a rare thing in the world of smartphones.  What isn’t so rare is that three of the four carriers (other than T-Mobile) are selling the 16GB models of the S III for the exact same price on contract: $199 after various promotions, rebates, etc.

But the carriers are getting a great deal of competition from third-party sellers. 

The best  price comes from Amazon for the Sprint 16GB Galaxy S III.  If you’re signing up for a new account, Amazon Wireless has the phone for $119 with free shipping; if you’re already a Sprint customer, the upgrade price is $149.

Want the AT&T version?  The price at Amazon Wireless is $149 for an upgrade, $189 for a new account.  The Verizon Galaxy S III at Amazon is $149, whether you’re upgrading or signing up for a new account.

By the way – if you do want the T-Mobile version of the Samsung Galaxy S III but don’t want to pay the higher $279 price, WireFly has the phone for $199.