One of the biggest disadvantages of Android as a platform is its fragmented nature, which leads to multiple problems including infrequent or non-existent updates on many different devices. Devices like the Google Pixel tend to go against the grain here with timely updates, but similar update patterns are few and far between on other Android smartphones. In an effort to speed up their software updates, LG is introducing a new software update center in South Korea which will work exclusively towards developing software updates in a timely fashion for all of their devices. It is located in LG's new research and development campus in Magok-dong, western Seoul.

The first target of LG's new software update center is the LG G6, with the aim of bringing Android Oreo to the device later this month to Korean handsets. Other aims to be accomplished by the new research center are not just related to bringing software updates themselves to their Android devices, but also ensuring a consistent user experience and continuously testing stability and compatibility between hardware and software, particularly after software updates. LG hopes that its existence will help the company accomplish its goal of providing high-quality service to everyone around the world, not just to a smaller subset of users. This means that the software update center is not just for Korean handsets, but for global releases of devices.

"Aligning after-sales support with customers’ needs is a top priority at LG," said Mr. Jo Seong-jin, CEO of LG Electronics. "Stable and consistent upgrades will demonstrate to our customers that LG smartphones have long and reliable lifespans." We've already seen the company taking an unorthodox approach to device release cycles, and setting up a dedicated software update center is something that few companies are currently doing. It could very well pay off for the South Korean company, especially if they want to ensure customer loyalty by bringing faster software updates than their competitors.