Motorola has announced that only some of its Android-based smartphones will be getting updated to the latest version of Google’s operating system, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. In a blog post on Friday, the company acknowledged that many were wondering when their phones might be getting upgraded.
They pointed users to their upgrade schedule, where they could see when their device would be getting the latest Android update. They acknowledged that some users might be confused by the lack of upgrades to their specific devices. In response to those concerns, Motorola claimed that “obviously we want the new releases to improve our devices” (emphasis original), and said that “[i]f we determint that can’t be done – well then, we’re not able to upgrade that particular device.”
Now, what exactly they mean by “improve” is unclear. Presumably they intend to imply that some devices are too old or lack the necessary specifications to run Ice Cream Sandwich properly. But barring such concerns, it’s hard to imagine any Android device not being improved by upgrading.
This issue is made all the more interesting by the fact that Google is about to own Motorola. The deal is expected to close as soon as Wednesday. While it might be in Motorola’s best interest to make people buy new phones, it’s in Google’s interest to make sure everyone has the best Android experience possible. Once the purchase goes through, it will be interesting to see how those to needs intersect, and whether Google decides to light a fire under Motorola’s upgrade schedule.