Exclusive: Micromax A110 Canvas 2 to get Jelly Bean update next week

One of Android's biggest drawbacks is the slow pace at which updates are rolled out. Unless you use one of the newer Nexus devices, Android version updates trickle down at a glacial pace from OEMs to end users, and Micromax in particular has been on the receiving end of customers' ire. There's even a joke about it: "Micromax doesn’t release updates, it releases a new phone." But it seems Micromax is listening to what users want: we have official word from the company that an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the A110 Canvas 2 is on the way and will be available to users soon.

“Yes, the Canvas 2 is getting a Jelly Bean update and it will hit the market by late next week,” Andre Augustine, part of the company’s media & corporate communication team for India & SAARC Region, told tech2.

We also asked the company about the status of the Android 4.2 update for the A116 Canvas HD, one of the most popular Micromax handsets till date. We were informed that the Canvas HD will surely be updated to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, but no particular date or timeline was mentioned.

However, users will not be getting the update in the traditional over-the-air method. Augustine added, “This will not be an OTA update. Users will have to go to Micromax-authorised service centres to get the update. Currently, we are conducting tests (on the Jelly Bean ROM) and will be releasing the update by early next week latest.”

The Micromax Canvas 2 will get a 4.1 Jelly Bean update next week

Going to a Micromax service centre is quite a roundabout way to get the latest software, but we understand if some users want to restrict their data consumption or are apprehensive about fiddling around with the settings. In any case, the company has a handy service centre locator tool on their website to help lost souls. Once at the service centre, it should not take long for the update to be installed. We were told the process should take around a couple of hours or even less, depending on the service centre and the waiting queue.

Previously, users of the A110 Canvas 2 had to flash third-party ROMs to get Jelly Bean on their phones. However, that usually meant voiding the warranty or installing software that’s not properly optimised for the phone. An official update should remedy the need for such a process.

No 4.2 update yet for the Canvas HD

Micromax also told us that they are keeping an eye on the competition. “We are definitely looking at everything in the market and we will be upgrading our devices to match the technology available,” Augustine said. However, he didn't didn’t reveal exactly when we would see a refresh of the Canvas line or a Micromax smartphone with a 1080p display to compete with the biggies.