Google starts quality mark for sturdy smartphones that receive five years of updates

Android has started a category of the previously announced Enterprise Recommended program, where manufacturers promise security updates for smartphones for five years. These are ‘construction workers’ telephones’.

For a rugged smartphone to be eligible for the Enterprise Recommended program, they must deliver updates to smartphones within three months for a period of five years. They must also promise to release at least one upgrade to a new version of Android for the device. Google also has water resistance testing requirements.

Companies that want to buy smartphones in bulk should be assured of long-term support for their phones thanks to Enterprise Recommended. Non-rigid smartphones have slightly lower requirements; in addition, manufacturers must offer security updates for three years, also within three months after Google makes patches available.

It is the first time that Android smartphone manufacturers have promised updates for devices for five years. So far there are eleven smartphones in the Enterprise Recommended program for rugged smartphones, but more will follow soon, Google says.