Things change when looking
at subsidized devices, as carriers become involved in the update release schedule.
Not exact matches
Such a flagship
device would sell
at a
subsidized price and carry the latest version of Android.
As principal analyst
at The Enderle Group, Rob Enderle, points out: «This is a
subsidized device that comes with advertisements that make money for the company and offsets that manufacturing price, giving Amazon its profit margins.»
The purchase of a phone, either
at full retail or
subsidized, does not constitute a guarantee from T - Mobile that the
device will be updated.
This little - known sales tactic in the US is quite common in European and Asian countries, where providers will
subsidize unlocked
devices in order to grab customers by offering the latest
devices at a steep discount in exchange for a contract.
There's no word on whether those with
subsidized / locked
devices will be getting the update, but hey —
at least some Optimus 2X owners can enjoy the official update, which is better than nothing.
In exchange, the
devices are available to Prime subscribers
at a
subsidized price.
The deals available when you're not wanting a
subsidized device are generally significantly better, and so those willing to piece together a phone and plan separately are
at an advantage.