Samsung responds: 'Not charging carriers for Froyo updates'

The number of anonymous and unconfirmed "reasons" for the amount of time it's taking the U.S. Galaxy S phones to get their upgrades to Android 2.2 seems to grow every day. And the leading theory thus far has been from a post at XDA that claims Samsung is charging carriers more for the upgrade than they're willing to pay. (There's also that crackpot tip that Samsung was holding Froyo "hostage" as to not cannibalize sales of the unannounced Vibrant 4G. Yes, we've seen them all.)

But tonight, Samsung responded to Phonescoop, saying unequivocally:

"No. Samsung is not charging carriers for Froyo updates to Galaxy S. We hope to have more detail on status shortly. Promise!"

So it's time to put the tinfoil hats back on and bombard our inboxes once again with the latest unsourced, anonymous theory. But we'll throw this out and see if it floats: Perhaps it's just taken Samsung and the U.S. carriers that long to get their ducks in a row to make sure everything works, and everybody will shut up and smile once the updates hit, and start bitching about Gingerbread instead.  [Phonescoop]

Phil Nickinson