Who gets an OTA official docomo update to KitKat (4.4)?

I never saw this in stores.

Yesterday, docomo released a notice indicating which of its handsets will be getting an OTA update to Android 4.4, aka KitKat.

The list is as follows:

• XperiaTM Z SO-02E
• Xperia Z1 SO-01F
• Xperia Z1 f SO-02F
• AQUOS PHONE ZETA SH-01F
• ARROWS NX F-01F
• ARROWS Tab F-02F
• Galaxy S4 SC-04E
• Galaxy Note3 SC-01F
• Galaxy J SC-02F

Furthermore, the bulletin added that they do not plan to update any other non-new models to Android 4.4, so it looks like the latest version of the docomo ROM will be the last for those with older models.

Android™4.4へのバージョンアップは上記9機種のみ実施します。
なお、上記機種以外の製品のAndroid™4.4へのバージョンアップにつきましてはハードウェアの制限等により実施いたしません。

Only the above 9 models will receive a version update to Android 4.4. Furthermore, models not listed above will not receive updates due to hardware limitations and other reasons.

I loved the candy red case variant of this phone.

Personally, as the owner of a handset not on this list (Aquos Zeta SH-02E), I'm a little disappointed, but this is par for the course for a company with so many models to support with smartphones lasting an average of two and a half years and often having a maximum lifetime (if you're lucky) of five years.

Up to now, my phone had received regular updates from Docomo over the two years of its life; Docomo divides its updates into regular software updates (called ソフトウェア更新 {sofutowea kōshin}) — which are often, but not always, used for updating internal Docomo specific firmware and radios — and メジャーアップデート {mejā·appudēto} (major updates) — which are used for updating changes big enough to change the "Android version number" and name. An interesting quirk about the updates is that major updates, like most Android devices, can be (and is recommended, due to their size) downloaded via Wi-Fi, whereas Docomo specific software updates are done via the broadband radio using a special APN.

When I bought my phone, it was running a Docomo specific version of Ice Cream Sandwich, aka Android 4.3. Docomo upgraded it to JellyBean, and continued to push new Android updates that changed the version number but still stayed in the "JellyBean" class of devices.

Of course, it is always possible to root some phones and install third party versions of KitKat or other firmware sets onto one's device, but depending on the hardware and software, one may lose out on access to some of the docomo software and hardware features that are unique to Galápagos Japanese smartphones (FeliCa for example).

Early SC-04D purchases got a limited edition back
and a Docomo branded Sharp eneloop charger

Trying to predict how long a phone will continue to receive updates is an inexact guessing game, but from my experience up to now, most people that buy their phone new after late 2011 have usually received major updates for at least a year and a half, which based on the Android release cycle is usually good for one major Android naming "leap"; Nexus devices have tended to receive updates for a longer period of time (but not faster and not as fast as Google releases updates) than Galápagos versions.

For example, my two Docomo Galaxy Nexus phones, which are considered old phones when you consider the existence of all the other Samsung Galaxy devices which have been since them, have received two major updates, including the enabling of tethering.

Docomo's Galaxy Nexus (SC-04D) is running a build that is slightly tweaked from the stock Nexus; it includes software for Japan disaster bulletins (エリアメール {eria·mēru}): "Area Mail". Released in 2011 with Android 4.0.1 (ICS), they are now running official 4.3.x docomo variants of JellyBean (4.2).

Choose your Android wisely; upgrade death happens early.