On one hand, smartphone maker HTC is not breaking its vow to support the HTC One M7 when it comes to OS updates on the Android handset. The smartphone has been on market for two years and HTC promised to keep the updates rolling for two years.
On the other hand, HTC is not adjusting that strategy, which is making some loyal smartphone customers none too happy as the HTC M7 device will not be getting the Android 5.1 update. Those with the GPE version, however, will be getting the 5.1 update.
HTC’s update decision impacts the HTC One M7 devices running on HTC’s Sense firmware. Handsets with Google Play Edition will get the 5.1 update and future updates.
As Tech Times reported earlier this month, HTC followed through on issuing the Android 5.0 Lollipop update as an OTA release for the HTC One M7 under the T-Mobile subscription as of March 10.
That release dropped in some welcomed features such as a refreshed Recent Apps page, ability to do a search right off the Settings app and some new notifications features.
So, just a week ago HTC VP of Product Management Mo Versi was enjoying some nice tweets and notes from grateful HTC One M7 device owners appreciative of the 5.0 update.
The same, however, can’t be said right now as Versi is the focus of some unhappy users in the Twitter universe as word is spreading that HTC is not providing the One M7 the 5.1 software update.
Versi announced the news in a simple Tweet: “Only the GPE version of M7 will receive 5.1. Our target is early April. Thanks.”
The device owner response was fast and a bit furious. One user said it was bad idea; another claimed HTC wasn’t fulfilling its two-year update promise to which Versi immediately responded that HTC has updated the M7 for up to two years “from an OS standpoint.”
But at least one user doesn’t agree with Versi, claiming that M7 came out in March 2013 and pointing out Lollipop 5.1 arrived before the two-year end of support time frame. “Basically you must deliver it,” tweets @kennymaclean.
As of Friday morning, it wasn’t clear if Versi had responded to that claim. What is clear is that as news spreads that the HTC One M7, which is running Android 5.0.1 Lollipop at this point, isn’t getting the Android 5.1 update, the M7 user universe is likely not happy.
Yet, as one media outlet relates, the 5.1 update isn’t any big loss as many feel it doesn’t add too much in terms of features, but it does fix some bugs and that’s what has been bugging device users who took to Twitter to complain. Another points out that given the two-year timeframe a good number of HTC M7 owners are likely looking forward to upgrading their devices.
HTC is at the ready to offer up the HTC One M9. As Tech Times has reported there is no set release date beyond HTC’s “early spring” announcement but some reports claim it will likely hit shelves before the end of March. The HTC One M9 will be released by all four major U.S. carriers; AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile and available from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores, Costco and Target. HTC has confirmed it will sell an unlocked HTC One M9 through HTC.com. Pricing is expected to be $199 with a two-year contract term.
