Skip to main content

Is a deadlock between Samsung and carriers stagnating Android updates?

Froyo on SamsungThings continue to look bleak for Samsung Android customers. Last week, a T-Mobile insider accused the manufacturer of purposefully putting off the Android 2.2 update until the Vibrant Plus is introduced. And despite protests from Samsung, it’s difficult to dismiss the fact that only one of its Android phones was privileged enough for the latest Froyo OS.

Now we’re hearing that a standoff between Samsung and its carriers could be what’s between users and an updated Android OS. An anonymous source wrote into XDA Developers, claiming that Samsung requires carriers to pay a fee each time its smartphones are eligible for an Android upgrade, and carriers have simply refused.

It almost seems like enough of a headache to switch to an iOS device. Apple simply requires its users to plug in their phones and open iTunes; Android devices rely on carriers for its OS upgrades. These overhaul “feature” upgrades aren’t cheap, and thus Samsung passes the buck to its carriers – and they apparently aren’t having it. “Most US Carriers aren’t very happy with Samsung’s decision to charge for Android updates as feature updates…As a result of perhaps, corporate collusion, all US carriers have decided to refuse to pay for the Android 2.2 update, in hopes that the devaluation of the Galaxy S line will cause Samsung to drop their fees and give the update to the carriers.”

Before shooting off any livid letters to Samsung, though, it’s important to note that this latest news first originated from a forum posting. So while it does seem to line up with what the T-Mobile insider claimed last week (and the fact that the source is allegedly an insider and in breach of an NDA), we’re going to take it with a grain of salt. Still, there has to be some reason that Samsung has done such a poor job upgrading its users’ Android devices.

And maybe the anonymous statement will serve a purpose other than enlightening users to the situation. According to a Facebook post from US Cellular, the Galaxy S will be ready for its Froyo update in March (the post mentions the Mesmerize, which is US Cellular’s Galaxy S phone).

Editors' Recommendations

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
I found 16 new widgets for iOS 17 that you have to try
A selection of widgets on an iPhone home screen.

Widgets have long been a popular feature on iPhones. Since the release of iOS 17, they have become more interactive, providing a more engaging experience. Interactive widgets allow you to perform important actions from your iPhone's home screen. For example, you can complete your to-do lists, play and pause media and podcasts, control your smart home devices, and much more — all without opening any apps.

Interactive widgets are not limited to Apple's built-in apps on iOS 17. Third-party developers are also adopting this new feature. Although not all apps offer interactive widgets, there are plenty that do. Here are a few interactive widgets that are worth exploring.
Calculator 17

Read more
Your iPhone just got a new iOS update, and you should download it right now
iPhone 15 Pro display with iPhone 15 Pro Max in background.

Apple has just released a new security update, iOS 17.4.1. This comes a little over two weeks after iOS 17.4, which was a big update. iOS 17.4.1 doesn't add any new features, but it's still an important update you'll want to download as soon as you can.

With iOS 17.4.1, Apple states that the update “provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users.” Apple doesn’t mention any specifics of these bug fixes, but more details on what this security update addresses may be revealed at a later date.

Read more
How to use photo cutout to cut and paste images in iOS 17
The image background remover feature from iOS 16 being used on a photo of a dog.

The iPhone has so many clever and fun little features that it's easy to miss some of them. One of the most whimsical features to come along in recent years is the ability to lift the subject of a photo away from the background so you can use it elsewhere — whether that's sharing it in an email, pasting it into a photo editing app, or even turning it into an iMessage sticker in iOS 17.

What's especially fascinating about this is that it seems like such a simple thing to do — and Apple does make it really easy — but there's a ton of number crunching going on under the hood to make it happen. This means you'll need an iPhone with a reasonably modern processor, but the good news is that it doesn't have to be the latest and greatest iPhone 15 Pro. While the insanely powerful A17 Pro chip in Apple's flagship smartphone surely helps things along, this feature can be used on any iPhone with an A12 Bionic chip or later, which goes back to the 2018 iPhone XS and iPhone XR.

Read more