HTC, Verizon deploy Android handset updates most frequently in U.S., says study

By on Jan 15, 2011 at 2:22 AM
mobile January 15, 2011

ComputerWorld has published a study that sheds some light on which manufacturer and wireless carrier in the U.S. provide Android users with operating system updates in the most timely fashion. Data was collected on handsets released by AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon from 2009 through 2010. The report examines how many phones were upgraded to Froyo (Android 2.2), how many days it took to receive this upgrade, and what percentage devices are still waiting. The study indicates that HTC has delivered the most Android 2.2 updates to its handsets (50%) while Motorola updates its devices the fastest (54.5 days after 2.2 announcement). In terms of carriers, Verizon took the top spot — taking just 58 days on average to push out 2.2 updates — and was followed by Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T respectively. The report notes, “Between June and December, AT&T failed to upgrade a single one of its nine Android phones.” Ouch. What do you think? Any surprises here?

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  • http://twitter.com/oshizzle1991 Colby Rascol

    lol AT&T fail

  • Anonymous

    ComputerWorld actually published this study two days ago. Engadget and others also reported on this two days ago. Where have you guys been?

    • ItsMeBeaches

      That’s not really the question u should be asking…BGR has always been late. The question u should be asking is now that they have the iPhone and dont have to compete against it will they stay true to their Android users? Before they had to keep those consumers at least marginally happy, Android to VZW is chick who u ask to prom because the one u really wanted to go with says no. Now that the girl u really wanted to go to prom with came around and tells u she wants to go with u now, will u accept and dumb the other girl. Well for VZW the iPhone is that girl, lets hope Android doesn’t get dumbped by them.

      • Joebutler85

        Actually alot of us asked Android to the prom because we like the idea of getting everything we’re paying for technology and feature-wise rather than buying a 9-month outdated phone that was behind the curve feature wise when it was released and has grown more so since. It does hurt not having a lower case i in my products name though the i must be where all the value is.

      • ItsMeBeaches

        Im not talking about the consumers im talking about VZW. This article says VZW updates Android more than any other carriers, but we all know they did that to keep their Android consumers happy, and as a way to compete against the iPhone. Im an Android user so my question was will they continue to make their Android base happy now that they have the iPhone? I guess u didnt get my little analogy lol.

        The reason i asked this is because ironically AT&T updates their Android phones the least. AT&T had the iPhone, so will VZW follow suite now that they have the iPhone? So far the precedent has been set…if u have the iPhone u dont have to cater to Android. Lets hope VZW continues to care about Android, and not forget about this market base because they now have the phone they were fighting against.

      • Steve Hillshire

        @ItsMeBeaches, to be fair, AT&T didn’t have the HTC and Moto Android devices that VZW had. 2011 should be a much more defining year as AT&T, VZW and the other 2 US carriers are going have a large selection of phones. I don’t think AT&T would announce *12* Android phones for 2011 if they were not going to put any focus on them. With the Android powerhouses VZW is releasing in 2011, I don’t think their support is wavering at all in the face of the iPhone.

      • Robvandammm

        Hopefully they cater to both the iPhone and android; it would be the smart thing to do to snatch as many customers as possible. Support the droids, support the iPhone.

      • Anonymous

        Apple doesn’t give AT&T the power to update, they do it themselves. Thats y the iPhone gets it’s updates. If it went thru AT&T, it would probably b shit too.

      • Anonymous

        Really…

      • Anonymous

        I think you have spoken the truth.

      • Seabass

        lol I guess everyone had their turn with this girl but she’s around….

  • Anonymous

    The data is not all correct. The HTC Evo was the first carrier phone to get FroYo. The data above would have you to believe that Verizon and Motorola were first. Regardless, I would only buy HTC, and maybe Motorola phones. I would never purchase any other brand.

  • Anonymous

    Now if we could just get vz to release their 4G phoNes, specifically the htc thundebolt

    • Anonymous

      Word on the street is “around March 1st” so I would anticipate LTE devices by then. It wasn’t clarified to me if that was just MIFI hot spots or not.

      • Anonymous

        Damn, I bet if they didn’t finally get the iphone, which is great for all those who have been wanting it. We would have had more concrete info on 4G Lte devices by now

  • Anonymous

    ok HTC, just deliver a Tegra 2 on Verizon and I’m yours.

    • Steve Hillshire

      Yes, it was a big disappointment to have been hyped up on the Thunderbolt only to find out it will not have the Tegra 2. The Moto Droid Bionic is the clear choice in light of that.

  • Dsjr2006

    The presentation of the data is a little flawed because it only takes into account a very short timespan. The AT&T devices in question were all either just released or at the end of their lifecycle; furthermore, it’s the manufacturers that are responsible for providing and update to push out and the only device they have that manufacturers have commited to updating to 2.2 is the Captivate. The Streak release was originally delayed by Dell and is still in testing with AT&T, the Aria will likely get it, but nothing yet from HTC. The Xperia will not get past 2.1 according to SE and Motorola just updated the Backflip to 2.1 like last month. The three new devices from Moto haven’t been updated but they were just released and Moto hasn’t commented on any updates.

  • dwinsmith

    If you extended the timeframe you would see that many VZW devices still don’t have 2.2 like the Devour, Droid Eris, Fascinate, and Ally.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1001483324 Gerry Quaglia

      Eris is low end and was deemed not updatable. The Fascinate, that’s another story. Samsuck, well, sucks.

    • Norm 4GLTE

      Perhaps if you did what myself and many other educated DROID enthusiasts do, buy a new model every two months, then you wouldn’t be stuck with an obsolete DROID. DROID is all about choice and compeition. You can CHOOCE to keep your outdated phone or you can check out the latest DROIDs every month and compare them due to the COMPETITION that DROID DOES.

      • dwinsmith

        That’s great for enthusiasts, but for most people that’s unrealistic and leaves them in a difficult position. On a side note, your spelling and grammar are terrible.

  • Ijames1000

    Good give my incredible 2.3 already

  • Anonymous

    Just goes to prove the results in the Consumer Reports magazine. at&t comes out last again.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1001483324 Gerry Quaglia

    This is news? ATT sucks at Android, no surprise. Wonder if that will change with the new batch of high end Android devices they are getting.

  • Anonymous

    False to fact: EVOOOO (Sprint) got 2.2 before anyone! This is as objective and as factual as it gets since, I no longer have my EVOOOO or Sprint. And, I remember how Droid X, Droid, and Incredible owners were complaining about the lack of FROYO lovin’ from Verizon!!

    As for Cingular, well, that’s to be expected! Updates available via Duct Tape patches.

    • Anonymous

      Hey PAPITO you’re so right. And the advantage with android is that you could have any of 20 variations of the os and most importantly phones that can last months with one charge and can be 10,000 feet underground and get all bars…

  • Securitywiz

    Its not talking about who did the update first, its stating who update the most handsets and the fastest. I am not surprised about the results, vzw has always been leading the android arena

  • Norm 4GLTE

    Another fine example of how DROID DOES on Verizon Wireless. With DROID you will be guaranteed a new OS with each new DROID you purchase, no need to wait around for us to send you an update that will make your phone functional again or to be able to use apps that are remotely useful. DROID DOES RULE THE AIR!!!!

    • Anonymous

      Hey brother. Where have you been?

  • Crisbautista97

    AT&T is the original iSlave

  • http://twitter.com/Davva360 David Moore

    I agree it is an AT&T Fail but it is also an Android Fail. If they kept Sense, Touchwiz and Blur off the OS the updates would be much quicker. I know it put me off Android last time my contract was up and it will probably do so again if they cant get a better more unified approach to updates.

    For example, if I buy a Samsung Epic 4G I should be able to either wait until Samsung decides to update its UI and get their update, or go direct to an Android site and update to stock 2.3. Everything should work and it should be easy so that even the least tech savvy consumer can do it. Until then buying an Android phone is a risk as there is no guarantee the OS will ever be updated, and with all the new features that are added it would really suck to be stuck in that position for 2 years.

    By the way, this is not an anti Android post, just giving my idea on what could be done to make it a more attractive platform to everyone.

  • Seabass

    And we Thank You Att!!! your a joke.

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