but who really benefits outside of the carriers who get a free OS for their phones? You seem confused about carriers, phone-makers and how things works in real

but who really benefits outside of the carriers who get a free OS for their phones? You seem confused about carriers, phone-makers and how things works in real life. Carriers may get stock-phones rebranded and customized from phone-makers, but in no way is it "their" phones or their problem getting a OS for it. Phone makers make phones. Carriers provide carrier waves and cellphone services. These two roles are 100% independent, despite carriers sometimes present customers with custom-made phones bought by them from phone-makers.