Google Partners With Vendors to fix Android fragmentation

Google has created a partnership to attempt to create standards for the way that Android devices receive updates after their release. Currently one of the Android platform’s biggest issues is the way that updates are fragmented across manufacturers, devices and versions.

Verizon, HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericson, Sprint, T-Mobile, Motorola, LG, Vodaphone and AT&T are all part of the initial partnership. Google says that ‘others are welcome to join’.

All Android devices will receive updates for 18 months after the first launch ‘if hardware allows’. This is an improvement over the way that Android updates have been limited depending on the limitations that each individual manufacturer place on their devices.

Currently if a manufacturer makes customized changes to the Android platform for instance, you may not get an update for months after a new version is released.