Following the official release of the Nexus 6 on all major US carriers, Google has quietly amended its language regarding the availability of major Android updates when involving Google Play Edition and Nexus devices on carriers. Previously, Google mandated that all Google Nexus and Google Play Edition devices were to be updated to the latest edition of Android as soon as possible and regardless of carrier involvement with a two-week window for delivery.
Now, Google has changed the policy to allow for carriers to delay major Android updates to either device line past the previous two-week delivery window.
The changes are likely the result of the increased control over updates carriers demanded in exchange for carrying the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 LTE through carrier sales channels, and as Google has relented to giving up control to carriers in the past regarding Android, these changes are being seen as a step backwards for devices that are supposed to be completely free from carrier control and have already led to frustration for some users expecting timely Lollipop updates. Some carriers have yet to begin staging and rolling out the update over the air, but the updates cannot be truly controlled by carriers as people can still sideload them. As long as the update files are available in some form either through Google or through other means, the language may be a way to address delays in over-the-air updates from carriers.
