Keeping customers in the know on when their device may, or may not, receive a software update is tricky business. In the beginning we really never knew. We just waited and hoped it would come. Then things got heated where an update would land on one device in one country and never make it to another. Needless to say it aggravated the Android community and many people gave up and gave in for custom ROMs that generally updated quicker and with better features. Over the last year or so we have seen a bit more transparency come from not only Google, but also from manufacturers and carriers. HTC has been one of the biggest pushers in this field, in my opinion, by not only keeping updates about the progress of a software update, but also when users should expect to receive it in their country and on their carrier. Motorola is right there with them.
The problem in the states comes from the carrier process though. While manufacturers could already have a stable update in the wild on unlocked versions of the device, the carriers can’t just let that be the way. Instead, manufacturers send over the software package, the carriers then inject their goods to it and test it. If things go smooth, then we get an update. If they go south, then it usually ends up back at the manufacturers door step to solve issues and try again. Each carriers timeline and approval tests are different. T-Mobile looks to be doing at least something about keeping customers in the loop with a new Software Updates page.
The Software Update page lists out the various Android devices that magenta carries. You simply click on your device and you will be given a screen that shows the devices current update status. At this time you have three stages; Manufacturer Development, T-Mobile Testing and Completed. If we take the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 for instance, it returns stating that it is in Manufacturing Development. Which means Samsung is still working on it and T-Mobile doesn’t have it in hand to test yet. We choose the HTC One M8 and we are greeted with the Complete information stating that the One M8 already has Lollipop. Which is does in case you missed it. However, it would appear that T-Mobile is testing the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Which could be a bit hairy of a subject if the Note 3 picks it up before the Note 4 does.
The page doesn’t give you much details when it comes to timelines, neither specific or suggested. That is the real shame with the page. I am certain they have expectations and deadlines to meet. Although I can see how fast a “should be out in March” could turn for a carrier if it didn’t make its appearance until April or later. Still, it is better than nothing Good job T-Mobile.
If you want to check on your devices status, head over to T-Mobile Support for the Software Update page.
Source: T-Mobile Via Droid-Life
