Last week, Google unveiled its new Pixel and Pixel XL mobile flagships, but soon after that announcement, it emerged that Verizon - the only US carrier to sell the phones directly - would be managing system updates for both devices.
Many potential buyers were less than delighted by that news, given that Google had said it would roll out Android updates to the new handsets directly, with no previous mention of carrier interference. But today, both Google and Verizon have assured buyers that the Pixel and Pixel XL will receive those updates through the carrier without delay.
Verizon told Ars Technica that "all operating system and security updates to the Pixel devices will happen in partnership with Google". The Pixels it sells "will receive the same update at the same time" as those sold by Google itself, "much like iOS updates". It added: "Verizon will not stand in the way of any major updates", although that does beg the question of whether or not it will stand in the way of smaller "non-major" updates.
The carrier will pre-install three apps on the Pixel and Pixel XL - My Verizon, Verizon Messages and Go90 - and says that "all three can easily be uninstalled by the user".
Google has also confirmed that Verizon buyers won"t face any delays in receiving the updates.
Source: Ars Technica