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> In two years, your average consumer probably doesn't care if their device is still receiving software updates. They'll jump onto a new phone plan, with a fres

by felixge 10y ago

> In two years, your average consumer probably doesn't care if their device is still receiving software updates. They'll jump onto a new phone plan, with a fresh, cool new mobile, with a better screen, newer software (features!), and a refreshed battery. This might be true for the US, where 75% of subscribers are on post-paid (contracts). It's not true for the rest of the world. * Europe: < 50% post-paid * Rest of the world: < 22% post-paid I'd also argue that Android users will be more likely to be pre-paid than post-paid customers (compared to iPhone users) in all of these regions, but I have no data to back it up. Anyway, I agree that it's probably not very profitable, if at all, for android handset makers to support their devices for > 2 years. But I think many customers would benefit from it ... [1] http://www.globalrewardsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/GRS-Mobile-Top-up_Wireless-Market-Statistics-2015.pdf http://www.globalrewardsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/GRS-...

ianai 10y ago
I think the "post paid" connection leading to a 2 year lifecycle is suspect. There's a big after market repair industry in the US. Many people have a singular cell phone as their internet device - and it's often ancient by IT terms. 2+ year old hardware needs to be getting software/OS upgrades.
- majewsky 10y ago
  I favor the proposal of requiring a prominent "Best Before" date for new devices, indicating how long the manufacturer will guarantee the availability of security updates.
  - ianai 10y ago
    That's an SLA and we should all b getting them.
krzyk 10y ago
But it is not something related to 2 year upgrade plan. In EU phones have 2 year warranty, after that period most people would like to upgrade it. And more over in parts of the world outside US, the best phones are not always available on contract, you need to buy them on your own (e.g. Nexus line was mostly like that, Pixels probably too). And more over cellular companies put a lot of bloat on the phones, some of them would make malware creators proud (e.g. an app that if you open it after 1 month trial period it will add a recurring cost to our cell bill).
- pjmlp 10y ago
  Also we usually use the mobile phones until they die or get stolen, which is way more than just 2 years.

by felixge 10y ago

ianai 10y ago

I think the "post paid" connection leading to a 2 year lifecycle is suspect. There's a big after market repair industry in the US. Many people have a singular cell phone as their internet device - and it's often ancient by IT terms. 2+ year old hardware needs to be getting software/OS upgrades.

majewsky 10y ago
I favor the proposal of requiring a prominent "Best Before" date for new devices, indicating how long the manufacturer will guarantee the availability of security updates.
- ianai 10y ago
  That's an SLA and we should all b getting them.

krzyk 10y ago

But it is not something related to 2 year upgrade plan. In EU phones have 2 year warranty, after that period most people would like to upgrade it. And more over in parts of the world outside US, the best phones are not always available on contract, you need to buy them on your own (e.g. Nexus line was mostly like that, Pixels probably too). And more over cellular companies put a lot of bloat on the phones, some of them would make malware creators proud (e.g. an app that if you open it after 1 month trial period it will add a recurring cost to our cell bill).

pjmlp 10y ago
Also we usually use the mobile phones until they die or get stolen, which is way more than just 2 years.