HTC says the One A9 will receive every Android update within 15 days of Nexus devices

Earlier today HTC took the wraps off the One A9, its latest upper-midrange smartphone. The handset is already up for pre-order in the US, and will become available at the beginning of next month (including in other markets, though pricing varies wildly).

To make the One A9 an easier choice for those who value getting timely software updates, HTC's arm in the USA has made a pretty big promise.

Did you hear that? The Unlocked A9 will receive every Google SW update within 15 days of Nexus devices! #BeBrilliant

— HTC USA (@HTCUSA) October 20, 2015

As you can see in the embedded tweet above, the One A9 is said to get every Android update within 15 days of the Nexus line having received it. That's a bold promise, and one that's unique in the Android world so far.

Obviously though, some questions arise, and HTC hasn't yet clarified all the details of this commitment. We don't know how long the One A9 will be covered, as clearly there will be a cut-off moment, possibly 18 or 24 months from the phone's launch (if we go by what usually happens in the mobile world). Also up for debate is what the word "every" means in this context - will HTC send each of Google's monthly security updates straight to the One A9? What about .x updates, for example Android 6.1 if that ever becomes reality? Will that make it to the One A9 in 15 days too? Is this update promise only valid for the US (since this has after all been announced by the company's US subsidiary)? Or does any unit purchased unlocked anywhere in the world get the same treatment? And what happens to carrier models, how slowly will they get updates?

Hopefully HTC will at some point take some time to answer all of these questions.