Thoughts on Carriers and Android updates

[johnb41]

It's ridiculous that iPhone users all get their updates as soon as it's available, while Android users "may" get an update many months after it's released. We all know that frustration...

... I know it must be a lot of work for, say, AT&T to roll out updates for all their many Android phones. But don't you think it would be in their best interest to do this as fast as possible?...

Imagine if AT&T advertised "All compatible Android phones always get the latest update within 1 month, guaranteed". AT&T would definitely get more customers, and customers from competing carriers would flee and come to AT&T. The extra work to get new Android on all their devices would be worth it for all the extra sales.

Of course, if this were true, then all carriers would follow suit and AT&T's advantage would be gone. But then all Android users would benefit.

 

[Talderon]

I agree to a point. In the case of the Note, until Samsung releases it for AT&T to "do their thing" on, it's out of their hands.

Now, WHY Samsung released this with GB is beyond me, but hey, if I was running the show, things would be a LOT different. LOL!

 

[ryandelman]

Apple gets their updates out in measured increments because they have one device (talking about phones here) built with hardware specific to that one device and running firmware made exclusively for that one device.

This topic is at the very core of what's different between iOS and Android, meaning fragmentation related to open source concept versus complete production-line repeatability stemming from a closed ecosystem.

Bottom line: If the benefits of open source outweigh the headaches of fragmentation, then Android is for you. If they don't, there's likely an Apple store walking distance from you with blue-shirted iPhone toting fart-knockers just grinding their teeth with anticipation of your crisp dollars hitting their clammy palms.

-Ryan

 

[zc1]

Quoting myself from another thread:


1. The first option which would make updates happen faster would involve Google allowing carriers to charge users for the updates. Free updates don't do much to help AT&T's (or any other carriers') bottom line. The carriers pay people to review, modify and test the OS source code (troubleshoot compatibility issues, add bloatware, etc.) and then give the software out for free!? For Fifteen different current phones as well as 15 phones that have gone 'end of line' in the past year!?

2. The second option which would make updates happen faster would involve Google taking the Apple route. Apple has one device (various shapes, sizes, capacities, names, etc., but really one device). The carriers aren't allowed to modify the OS, and updates come directly from Apple. If Apple releases new iOS software today, you can download it today. Done. No waiting on AT&T, Bell, etc. Simple. Apple also has the user base and continued sales power to enable them to take a hard stance on this when negotiating with carriers.

3. The average user doesn't know Gingerbread from Ice Cream Sandwich and really doesn't care if his/her phone has the latest Android OS or not. Last time I was in a Bell store the customer beside me wasn't asking about what OS was on her phone. She was asking the customer service agent to show her how to do 2 things with her new 'droid': (1) answer a call when the phone rings (I kid you not); (2) send a text message. She couldn't have cared less whether her phone's OS was the most current. She's in the majority. We, discussing mobile OS updates in an online forum, are the minority.

 

[Tware]

I don't know many iPhone owners who know what iOS version they are running.. but almost every Android owner with a top tier device that I know of knows exactly what OS they are on. Sure, low end devices, not so much.

We wouldn't have much of a basis to criticize ATT if not for XDA. I think alot of frustration and anxiety is simply because it takes ATT months or more to do what XDA does in days (or weeks to a stable build). We all know it can be done. It's just not a priority for ATT -OR- they are holding back for marketing reasons while ICS devices are being prepped for market.

Of course, we know the leaks are out there and have the freedom to flash them. It's beyond puzzling why these leaks are so unstable though. On the one hand, it makes me want to give ATT all the time they need to make it right... But, on the other, it makes me wonder why they can't push a stable update out the door. Regardless, it just makes for alot of unhappy customers. If I find a buyer for my i717, I'm jumping over to a N7000 (with no warranty of course and no LTE), just so I dont need to wait for ATT anymore.