For instance: 1 (Nov 11)= The ICS 4.0 version is just released 2 (Nov 11)= You buy a phone (outright/on-contract) with Gingerbread 3 (Nov 11-May 13)= You can access the Market with Gingerbread 4 (May 12)= The Jelly Bean 5.0 version is released 6months later 5 (Nov 12)= The Kuhla Cake 6.0 version is released 12months later 6 (May 13)= Last date for the OEM+Carrier needs to upgrade you to Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean) on the latest build 7 (May 13)= The Lollipop version 7.0 is released 18months later 8 (Nov 13)= End of carrier contract, customer can upgrade to newer hardware & software For instance: 1 (Nov 11)= You buy a phone (contract/outright/secondhand) that was released 12 months ago (Nov 10) 2 (Nov 11)= Your "Google Supported Phone" should be officially running Froyo or higher 3 (May 12)= Your phone gets an update to the latest Android build (ICS 4.0) 4 (May 12)= The Jelly Bean 5.0 version is released 5 (Nov 12)= The Kuhla Cake 6.0 version is released 6 (May 13)= The Lollipop version 7.0 is released 7 (Nov 13)= Latest date for OEM to give you official update for Jelly Bean 5.0 8 (Nov 13)= The Marshmallow 8.0 version is released 9 (Dec 13)= Customer not to expect anymore support - Customer satisfied