According to a couple of sources, the Samsung Stratosphere is to receive its first system update over the air, probably within a few days:
http://www.droid-life.com/2012/08/27/samsung-stratosphere-to-receive-first-update-includes/
This is going to be a "mandatory" update, meaning that Strat users cannot choose not to receive and install it. The update will not be Ice Cream Sandwich, but will add a couple of ICS features to the Strat's Gingerbread Android operating system, such as face unlock. (I presume that this means you can unlock the phone by looking at it, not by tapping it with your face -- nor that the phone will unlock your face if the latter seizes up. 
) It will also address a few issues that have been mentioned on this forum, such as individual ringtones for contacts, and improved screen wakeup during calls.
Here is an announcement from VZW about the update (note the misspelling of the device's name in the URL!):
http://support.verizonwireless.com/pdf/system_update/statosphere.pdf
Here's a brochure from VZW about what will happen when the update is ready to install (with the same misspelling):
http://support.verizonwireless.com/pdf/system_update/statosphere_instructions.pdf
I haven't received any word from VZW about this myself, which I find a little annoying, since they say they are "pleased to announce" it. Just not directly to customers, I guess. Now if my phone will only hold a 4G connection long enough for the thing to download! 
There's enough weeping and wailing on this forum (some of it mine) that a little lol now and then is probably good for us all.