60% of US Android phones not getting updates less than a year after release

October 27, 2011 | By Surur

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Microsoft has promised to support all Windows Phones with updates equally. This is certainly not true for the hundreds of millions of Android handsets sold already.

Theunderstatement blog have researched all Android phone shipped in the United States¹ up through the middle of last year and every update that was released for each device – be it a major OS upgrade or a minor support patch – as well as prices and release & discontinuation dates.

The research pains a pretty poor picture.

7 of the 18 Android phones never ran a current version of the OS.
12 of 18 only ran a current version of the OS for a matter of weeks or less.
10 of 18 were at least two major versions behind well within their two year contract period.
11 of 18 stopped getting any support updates less than a year after release.
13 of 18 stopped getting any support updates before they even stopped selling the device or very shortly thereafter.
15 of 18 don’t run Gingerbread, which shipped in December 2010.
In a few weeks, when Ice Cream Sandwich comes out, every device on here will be another major version behind.
At least 16 of 18 will almost certainly never get Ice Cream Sandwich.

The picture is even worse outside of USA, and results in millions of Android users running devices with known security holes, and stops developers targeting the latest version of the OS.

With the Mango update now available to 100% of Windows Phone 7 users, Microsoft is clearly showing how to do it right. Android on the other hands seems to be doing it very wrong.

Read the full article at theunderstatement blog here.

Thanks Jon for the tip.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged andoid, news, updates

Anonymous

I’ve had my HTC Desire (in France) for a year, and haven’t had a SINGLE Android update. I can’t WAIT to get the Lumia 800!
Anonymous

It’s a rainbow of fragmentation.
Anonymous

Look at the Motorola’s stats! I ones had a Motorola Milestone and that was my last Motorola ever!
http://twitter.com/brooza664 brooza

I got myself a G1 back in the day and got so frustrated with all the bugs and lack of updates that when my contract expired I vowed not to be an early adopter again and get an iPhone rather then WP7 before the first update.

I ended up getting the WP7 and am now getting frustrated at the lack of updates*, but at least it’s not buggy.

*I got an Omnia 7 on T-Mobile UK, so am still awaiting Mango
Anonymous

Then again WP7 is only out a year or so! I doubt in 3 years time WP7 will be the same as android (terrible support) but with the issues with the Omnia 7 and Focus I don’t think they will still be up-to-date in three years!

I had an Xperia X8 for a couple of months and never received an update!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Milad-Bazzaz/100000479683479 Milad Bazzaz

If they support every device for 3 years, thats more than enough. After that you shouldn’t bother to get a new phone.

Anonymous

I’ve never had a phone that just became outdated! I’ve had phones break over time and forced to upgrade. Until the X8! The Nokia N8 is doing me fine now but a Nokia WP7 phone is just tempting!

Anonymous

Ive got a samsung focus and, basically I expect upgrades all the way as every other WP7 phone.

However, the SAMOLED is already starting to colour burn, so I will be switching in a year or so anyway.

Anonymous

I thought what they are talking about is updates. I know most device are updated once or twice with new firmware and OS. The issue is how many of these updates actually get onto the current devices that needed the updates.
However, some top of the line device need to be supported for at least 5 years or more.

http://www.twitter.com/wixostrix WixosTrix

After releasing Windows 7, Microsoft said their goal was keep the same minimum system requirements of Windows 7 for all future versions of Windows. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was there plan for Windows Phone as well. Current phones should be powerful enough for all future versions of Windows Phone up until the way we interact with the interface evolves, like to button-less and reliant of edge touches. Of course, every product has a lifecycle and we shouldn’t expect support forever, but I think at least 3 years of support isn’t too much to ask for.

Anonymous

This image is one piece of art
http://twitter.com/nathan_hodge Nathan

So, 7 + 12 = 18? I am horribly confused by your math. If 7 never ran a current version and 12 ran a current version for a short time, I get 19.
Anonymous

As with everything else, Google has [fostered] the use of the old Windows Mobile update methodology, only this time it’s more apparent than ever to the consumers being left behind.
Anonymous

Again 90 percent of smartphone users started after the launch of the iphone and most bought the android phones and most do not know that these phones uses OS that need to be updated. Go down the street and interview 10 people using a samsung or htc android smartphones. I bet 7/10 will not know their phones are android OS. Most bought the phones because of hardware style, UI (looks like iphone) and lastly brand name. most do not know what is andriod, ios, wp7, symbian etc. most just need phones that looks like iphone or have icons. I have actually met consumers that are shopping for a new phone not becuase they actually need a new phone but because their friend got a phone that do many more things or have more icons. You need to see the excitement on their faces once their phone is upgraded from 2.1 to 2.2 they are happy and you get the …. thank u thank u … you make my phones works again…etc.

What i am beating around the bust trying to say is many consumer do know have knowledge of the The different Operating Systems that runs cell phones. Many are not aware of the updates.

The windows phone 7 may run into the same issue 3 years from now. I have had customers that have come in to return their wp7, all i did is upgraded to 7.5 for them and asked them to go try it and bring it back the next day if they don’t like. All I get the next day or later is a thank you call.

Carriers and Manufacturers need to improve on notifying consumers of updates. If not that responsibility lies with the software (OS) makers.
http://justinfreid.com Justin Freid

I conducted an interview with the creator of the chart on my podcast, http://inThirty.net, give it a listen: http://30.inthirty.net/AndroidOrphans / http://30.inthirty.net/inThirtyiTunes