Google now says updates for Nexus devices can be delayed based on your carrier
It’s safe to say that with the launch of the Nexus 6 on all major carriers, some changes in the way Google traditionally handled over-the-air updates would need to been made. Because carriers love to be involved in the update process for any and all devices operating on their network, this can sometimes hold up a ready-to-go firmware updates for several weeks. We all know this. We’ve seen this happen for years now on our carrier branded smartphones and tablets but it seems not even Nexus devices are immune.
Today, Google has updated the wording on their support page in reference to software updates for Nexus and Google Play Edition devices. Here’s the section that has been amended with the update in bold:
“Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7, Nexus 9, and Nexus 10 devices receive the latest version of Android directly from Google. Once an update is available, it can take up to two weeks for it to reach your device. Based on your carrier, it may take longer than two weeks after release to get an update.“
While the truly dedicated Nexus user can still update as soon as a factory image is released, this takes away some of the luster and appeal from those of us that looked toward Nexus devices — even those purchased from a carrier — as a way of getting quick and timely software updates straight from Google. Although updates will still, technically, come from Google, if they don’t play nice with a carrier’s software or even their network, Google could play nice and hold things off until everyone is happy. With the Nexus 6 (and Nexus 9 LTE) be sold in carrier stores, there’s now a middle man involved and it seems compromises had to be made.