Google, Qualcomm Will Support 8 Years of Android Updates

An anonymous reader quotes a report from 9to5Google: Starting with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm will offer device manufacturers (OEMs) the 'ability to provide support for up to eight consecutive years of Android software and security updates.' Qualcomm today announced a 'program' in partnership with Google: 'What this means is that support for platform software included in this program will be made available to OEMs for eight consecutive years, including both Android OS and kernel upgrades, without requiring significant changes or upgrades to the platform and OEM code on the device (a separation commonly referred as 'Project Treble' or the 'vendor implementation'). While kernel changes will require updating kernel mode drivers, the vendor code can remain unchanged while the software support is being provided.'

This program specifically includes 'two upgrades to the mobile platform's Android Common Kernel (ACK) to support the eight-year window.' It's ultimately up to manufacturers to update their devices, but the bottleneck going forward won't be the chip. Qualcomm today notes how the extended software support it's providing can 'lower costs for OEMs interested in supporting their devices longer.' The first devices to benefit are Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered smartphones launching with Android 15. Notably, the program runs for the 'next five generations' of SoCs, including Snapdragon 8 and 7-series chips launching 'later this year.' Older chipsets will not benefit from this program.

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