Android 4.4 KitKat Update: HTC Announces Update Timeframe; Motorola Commits To Bringing It To RAZR Devices

Two major smartphone vendors, HTC (TPE:2498) and Motorola, have shared some significant details about their plans for rolling out the Android 4.4 KitKat update for a number of flagship handsets.

After publicly announcing last week that it had delivered the Android 4.4 KitKat code for the HTC One Google Play edition, which indicates the firmware update for the device will likely arrive soon, HTC took to its Twitter page on Tuesday to share its Android 4.3 and Android 4.4 update plans for both of the carrier-branded variants of the HTC One and the Droid DNA.

According to HTC, the One handset will receive Android 4.3 firmware in a 2-step process -- the first update will be related to compatibility and is expected to arrive as early as this week, while the final update will be rolled out at some point in December, Phandroid reported.

The company said it would deliver the Android 4.4 KitKat update for the HTC One by the end of January, while the Droid DNA would get the KitKat love by the end of the first quarter of 2014. As for the Unlocked HTC One Developer Editions sold direct from HTC, the update is expected to arrive before the end of this month.

Meanwhile, there are no details available about the HTC One Max and the HTC One Mini.

Motorola recently also announced it would deliver Android 4.4 KitKat to the Moto X, as well as to its latest Droid devices and the Droid RAZR HD developer edition. On Tuesday, the company released the new firmware update for the Verizon variant of the Moto X.

Motorola said it would update three more devices to Android 4.4 after the rollout -- the Droid RAZR HD, the Droid RAZR Maxx HD and the Droid RAZR M. Although Motorola did not provide any specific timeframe for the update, the devices are expected to receive the firmware sooner rather than later. Check out the Motorola Update Portal for details.