So when Google let the Pixel phones out of the bag, they also shred to the public the somewhat iffy news that Google’s brand spanking new smartphones will be exclusively sold by Verizon only, with the exception of the Google Play Store where you can buy them unlocked. So while the phones enjoyed some spectacular initial reviews, the news about being exclusively partnered with Verizon did raise some questions from the public.
One of the more logical questions would be, who would be handling the updates for the devices? The guys over at 9 to 5 Google had a Google spokesperson answer the question, and here is the direct answer below:
“Monthly security updates will come from Google (for all models), and system updates will be managed by Verizon for Verizon models, and Google for unlocked models bought from Google Store.”
So it’s a mixed bag, that answer. While Google will still be the one pushing security updates to all Pixel phones (including Verizon models), it will be Verizon who will be handling system updates. That means any update to Android and future Android versions will be coming from the mobile carrier.
All of this unless you buy your Pixel from the Google Play Store. At that point, we’re pretty sure you’ll be getting your updates straight from the mothership as well. So if you’ve decided you can take the challenge of the Pixel’s pricing, we can definitely say that it will be an advantage for you if you buy straight from Google, since the monthly financing details would pretty much come to around the same amount.
SOURCE: 9to5Google
The story continues the same. Locked bootloader, extra bloatware and not updated by Google. That is real progress here, wooooovvv
The average consumer, aka “the masses” and the same people who are most-likely to buy the Pixel from the Verizon store, don’t generally care if their bootloader is locked. For the people who do care, they’re going to buy straight from Google.
There isn’t actually any Verizon bloatware preloaded onto the phone; the phone will simply download 3 Verizon apps from the Play Store meaning you can uninstall them if you wish.
Verizon controlling the system updates is what really sucks, but only if they take too long to release them. If they release them relatively quick after Google does, then users will never notice the difference. Of course, going forward, we need to get to the point where Google is in control of the system updates no matter which phone you have.
My Nexus 6 is branded with a big fat Verizon logo on the back. And as soon as the 7.0 was released for it. I got it. Maybe because I was a beta tester. Bit I was not expecting it for at least another month. So maybe if you are a beta tester even with Verizon for the 7.1 you will get it when it is released.