Why is Verizon so far behind in updates?

Question

Why is Verizon so far behind in keeping our Samsung I535 Android software up to date? Both of our phones are still on Kitcat 4.4.2 which is at least 2, maybe 3, versions behind the current version. Google made a patch available last week to fix the Stagefright bug. Any release date on that? Don’t Verizon want to retain their customer base?

derrydavis · Accepted Answer

The patches have to go through the handset vendor for processing into a phone specific software update. Verizon works with the vendors to create patches that they then provide to the customer. It costs hardware vendors more money to keep development up on all models rather than just the most recent ones. So until it costs them more than just complaints then older devices most likely will not receive an update.