HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat Roll Out Begins: What You Need to Know

In November, HTC said that the HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update would arrive by the end of January and it looks like the company has kept part of that promise as the Android 4.4 KitKat update for the HTC One finally arrived today.

Last year, HTC made a number of bold promises. The company said that it would deliver Android 4.4 KitKat to HTC One Google Play Edition owners within 15 days of KitKat’s announcement. It said that it would release Android 4.4 KitKat for HTC One Developer Edition users within 30 days. And it said that it would push out Android 4.4 KitKat for the regular old HTC One within 90 days, or, before the month of January was over.

HTC pushed out the first two updates on time and throughout the month of January, HTC One owners across the globe have been watching and waiting for the Android 4.4 KitKat update to arrive.

The company did not provide any specific dates though we did see details trickle out over the last few weeks. Today, after weeks of partial confirmations and rumors, HTC has rolled out the HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update.

Yes, the HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update is finally here though the update is not rolling out to all HTC One owners at the moment. Unsurprisingly, the update is confined to specific regions and specific devices. With questions likely swirling, here is what HTC One owners in the United States, and elsewhere, need to know about the roll out.

Android 4.4 KitKat Update Limited At This Point

The HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update is here but it’s not here for everyone. The update, at this point, is only available in some regions in Europe, at least at the moment. It’s looking like unlocked users in continental Europe, excluding the United Kingdom, are seeing the update. Users from Spain, Romania, and Russia are reportedly seeing the update.

HTC typically rolls out its updates in stages so this isn’t surprising at all. Typically, we see the unlocked, unbranded devices get their updates first before the software moves on to the carrier-branded devices. HTC roll outs can take weeks or months to complete though from the looks of things, the HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update should start spreading to most regions before the end of February.

Those who are seeing the update claim that it’s around 300MB in size which means that it should take a little bit to download and install.

U.S. Updates Still Without Dates

HTC One owners in the United States have probably perked up over the news. The update in the U.S. remains missing and without a specific release date. The only thing that we know at the moment is that the update is in the certification process in U.S. carrier labs which means that its release is up in the air.

The company’s target remains inside January though the certification process is unpredictable. Last year, we saw Verizon’s HTC One Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update delayed several months. So, it’s possible that we could see at least some of these HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat updates emerge without a release date in January.

More Updates Arriving in a Few Weeks

What we do know is that other updates should be arriving in the next few weeks. French carrier SFR, for instance, says that it will be rolling out the HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update in the month of February. Other carriers, and regions, will likely follow suit. These roll outs don’t happen over night and typically take at least a few weeks.

Those who are on a specific carrier will want to stay in touch with that carrier for information. Manufacturers like HTC typically won’t release roll out information for individual carriers. U.S. carriers have been the exception.

Android 4.4 Update Features

HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat updates for carrier-branded devices will differ. Carriers typically put their own spin on these updates though the differences are usually related to bug fixes and once in awhile, enhancements. Those who are receiving the update on the unbranded model will be receiving similar updates.

Thanks to LlabTooFeR, here is the change log for the version of the Android 4.4 KitKat update that is rolling out in Europe:

Updates for individual carriers will differ though this is generally what HTC One owners across the globe should expect from the Android 4.4 KitKat update for the HTC One.

U.S. variants will be getting the new Sense 5.5, an update that rolled out weeks ago for other HTC One variants. The update will bring enhancements to HTC Zoe and HTC BlinkFeed among other things.