Google: all smartphones must upgrade to Android 10 by January 31

Android 10 has been available for sometime now, albeit primarily for Google’s Pixel line of smart-phones. However, Google has mandated that the new operating system will soon be mandatory for all new electronic devices.

As reported by XDA Developers, Google will only authorize GMS (Google Mobile Services) if the electronics supplier provides a build based on Android 10. This means that all phones released after January 31, 2020 will need to have Android 10 onboarded. Google Mobile Services are apps and software that come bundled with Android phones, like the Play Store, the Chrome web browser, and YouTube. The only exception granted so far is the Huawei Mate 30 which, due to a ban in the US, is sold without these services.

Some consumers are commenting that the requirement is a sign of ageism. Older mobile phone users are less likely to make upgrades to new software immediately after release, and thus could put this demographic at a major inconvenience at the very least or, at the very worst, erode trust out of being forced to make changes that they could be ill prepared to make.

This isn’t just Google being pedantic. To provide timely security updates for Android, Google requires the new OS as updates are now beginning to be modeled and built around it. Thus, new security features require every OEM to release its own build off the open source system. Restricting mobile access to music and cat videos is one way of holding mobile manufacturers’ feet to the fire.