Android Ice Cream Sandwich update to land on Asus Transformer Prime on 12 January

Manufacturer also promises to release bootloader unlocking tool

Asus has confirmed it will start rolling out the Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update to the Transformer Prime tablet from 12 January, and will also provide developers with a tool to unlock the bootloader.

In a Facebook post, the Taiwanese manufacturer said it has been working hard to bring the Ice Cream Sandwich update to the device and will release a "worldwide update" on 12 January.

Asus also used the post to address concerns about a locked bootloader on the device, explaining it had shipped the Prime in the US with a locked bootloader to comply with Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies.

However, it said that due to high demand it will release an unlock tool to the developer community, following in the footsteps of HTC, which made the same announcement last July, but warned users of the risks of taking advantage of this development.

"Asus supports Google DRM in order to provide users with a high-quality video rental experience. Also, based on our experience, users who choose to root their devices risk breaking the system," it said.

"Please do note that if you choose to unlock your device, the Asus warranty will be void, and Google video rental will also be unavailable because the device will be no longer protected by a security mechanism."

Asus also sought to explain the poor GPS performance of the device.

"This product is not a professional GPS device, and signal performance can be easily influenced by factors including, but not limited to: weather, buildings, and surrounding environments. Please understand there are limitations when using the GPS function," Asus said.

"To avoid inconveniencing users who demand a powerful GPS device, we made the decision to remove it from our specification sheet and marketing communications. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused."

The Transformer Prime has been available for pre-order in the UK since 16 December priced at £499, and is expected to launch in the UK around 12 January.

With the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update being made available at this time UK users will be able to upgrade almost immediately, which is not usually the case.