Google contractually obliges manufacturers to perform Android updatesupdate

Google has begun modifying contracts with smartphone manufacturers, including a commitment to provide security patch updates. That will lead to many more Android devices that receive recent patches, the search giant reports.

Google does not disclose details about the clauses that require manufacturers to make updates. Google chief executive for Android security Dave Kleidermacher disclosed the existence of the contract changes during a session at Google I/O, XDA-Developers discovered.

According to Kleidermacher, Project Treble’s modularization of Android makes it easier for manufacturers to implement the patches in their own firmware. It is unknown what exactly Google obliges manufacturers. It is obvious that these are provisions that correspond to, for example, the Enterprise Recommend program, under which manufacturers promise to implement patches within three months. Google offers the patches once a month.

Google can negotiate with manufacturers because of the agreements on included apps. Android is open source and free to use, but manufacturers that want to provide apps such as the Play Store, Google Maps and Gmail must enter into an agreement with Google and have their devices tested.