Android 4.4 KitKat Update: Rollout For HTC One US Models Delayed By Carrier Certifications

While the Android 4.4 KitKat update began right on time for HTC One models in Europe, HTC has announced that updates for U.S. HTC One carrier models will be delayed for up to two weeks.

Since the introduction of Android 4.4 in late-October, HTC has promised it would begin rollouts for the HTC One in late-January – more specifically within 90-days of KitKat’s release. In a statement shared on the HTC website, president of HTC North America, Jason Mackenzie detailed that carrier certifications for network models of the HTC one have briefly held up the U.S. roll out.

As we approach the 90-day mark, we are getting closer to delivering KitKat and the finish line is becoming more clear. We are currently in the certification phase across all of our carrier partners in North America, and they share our enthusiasm for getting this software in your hands. That said, the software development process does not always follow a linear path and we know today that we will miss our self-imposed target. The good news is that we won’t miss by much as, it shouldn’t be more than one to two weeks to complete each of the carrier versions of the HTC One.

This is not the first time that an Android update has been updated for U.S. models of the HTC One have been delayed due to carrier certifications. The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for HTC One carrier models was scheduled to begin in late September 2013, but instead began in October, with the Verizon HTC One not updating to thenew operating system until December.

Carriers notably roll out updates at their own discretion, which could take several days, weeks or even months. In HTC's effort to remain transparent, it recently released an info-graphic breaking down the stages of an Android update. During the test/ certification phase, software builds are tested for bugs and fixes are implemented into new builds. Builds are tested by both manufacturers and carriers, but for some reason carrier certification takes much longer, especially in the U.S.

Thus far, the HTC One Google Play Edition, HTC One unlocked model, and HTC One Developers Edition have all updated to Android 4.4 in the U.S. Since they are not carrier models, their update development is done by HTC and carriers are not involved. The HTC One Google Play Edition in particular gets updated much faster than other models due to the fact that it runs stock Android and does not have its software altered by HTC.

Are you surprised that the Android 4.4 KitKat update for the HTC One U.S. carrier models has been delayed? Let us know in the comments below.

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