Qualcomm – the US based chipmaker has partnered with Google with an aim to enable support for up to 8 years of software and security updates on devices that are powered by its chips. Qualcomm stated that it has worked with Google to facilitate device manufacturers extend software support, and also increasing the longevity of Android-powered smartphones.

However, Qualcomm enabling extended software update support doesn’t mean that all smartphones that are using the eligible Snapdragon chips will obtain 8-year software updates. Rather it ensures that the hardware constraints are not a limitation any longer.

This gives manufacturers the option to unveil updates for a longer duration. And, the final decision on the duration of software support will stay with the individual smart phone brands.  

“Qualcomm Technologies is excited to take this step forward, working closely with Google to facilitate the latest Android OS upgrades on devices with Snapdragon,” said Chris Patrick, senior vice-president and general manager, mobile handsets, Qualcomm.

“With this advancement, we are raising the bar, providing more flexibility for our OEMs and ultimately enhancing user experiences. We’re excited to see more OEM devices that support Android OS longevity soon,” he added.