U.S. Update: Google vs. AT&T: Who's to Blame for the Delayed Android Updates?
Many people who have Android-based smartphones and tablets are becoming frustrated due to the lack or slow roll out of Android updates. Both Google and mobile carrier AT&T are refusing to take the blame for this situation.
AT&T Explains the Reason for Delay
Most of the explanations about the delay pertain to the availability of the update in mobile carriers. Most of the time, the blame is placed on the mobile carrier's shoulders because they are not able to implement the updates in a speedy manner.
In answer to this, Randall Stephenson, the CEO for AT&T explained the side of mobile carriers regarding this delay. According to him "Google determines what platform gets the newest releases and when. A lot of times, that's a negotiated arrangement and that's something we work at hard. We know that's important to our customers. That's kind of an ambiguous answer because I can't give you a direct answer in this setting."
Google Fires Back
Google was not pleased with this statement and decided to speak up about it through 9To5Google. Google explains that the update is made available as soon as it is released in the market hence implying that the problem is not on their part. Here is Google's statement:
"Mr. Stephenson's carefully worded quote caught our attention and frankly we don't understand what he is referring to. Google does not have any agreements in place that require a negotiation before a handset launches. Google has always made the latest release of Android available as open source at source.android.com as soon as the first device based on it has launched. This way, we know the software runs error-free on hardware that has been accepted and approved by manufacturers, operators and regulatory agencies such as the FCC. We then release it to the world."
Who's to Blame?
Many Android users are confused as to who is to blame for this delay because both AT&T and Google are refusing to accept the responsibility for the Android delay. It would be best if both parties would cease blaming each other and focus on making the updates available to all Android users as soon as possible.