Smartphones Unlocked: A closer look at software updates
Welcome to Smartphones Unlocked, my new monthly column designed to explain the ins and outs of smartphones to help you better understand how they work. The world of smartphones is a fast-paced one, and it can sometimes be confusing and difficult to keep track of all the new technology in these devices, particularly if you're new to them, so if there are any topics you'd like to see covered here, please feel free to e-mail me at bonnie.cha@cnet.com.
The popularity of smartphones is on the rise, and as people learn more about them and continue to buy them, they are demanding and expecting their handsets to have the latest technology, including software. The good news is nowadays software updates allow you to get the latest version of a mobile operating system even if you don't have the newest phone model. However, that's not always guaranteed for every device, and as some smartphone owners probably know, particularly Android users, the update process isn't always swift or smooth.
Issues like slow or delayed releases and bricked phones are frustrating to be sure, but the business of software updates isn't as simple as one might think. In fact, it's pretty complex and time-consuming. It's not just a matter of an OS provider handing off the update to the handset manufacturer or carrier to push out to smartphones; there are multiple phases and a lot of testing involved to ensure that once the software is rolled out, everything works properly. Even then, there might be some problems.
To get a better understanding of how updates work and to clear up some misconceptions, I talked to several OS providers, OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), and carriers and asked them to explain how the process works on their end. The purpose isn't to let them off the hook (I think there's plenty of room for improvement, starting with better communication), but hopefully, the information below will provide you with a clearer picture of the process and clear up some questions you might have about updates.
OEM testing
The entire process starts with a planning stage. As an OS provider, such as Google or Microsoft, is adding and testing the new and improved features to its platform, it also meets with the OEMs and carriers, and in some cases the chipset makers, to identify the content of the update and discuss a target schedule. Once there's near-final code from the OS provider, the handset manufacturers are the next group to start its testing process, so it can build the firmware to make the update happen.
The entire process starts with a planning stage. As an OS provider, such as Google or Microsoft, is adding and testing the new and improved features to its platform, it also meets with the OEMs and carriers, and in some cases the chipset makers, to identify the content of the update and discuss a target schedule. Once there's near-final code from the OS provider, the handset manufacturers are the next group to start its testing process, so it can build the firmware to make the update happen.
