While you are at it, add being able to use iMessage and Facetime. We pay the same monthly fee yet are not able to use those either.
Bwaaaaaa quit it, I just spit out my soda!
And Apple worked out an agreement with Verizon where updates would be supplied by Apple and pushed out via iTunes, an Apple program restricted by Apple to only work on Apple devices. When the other manufacturers work out agreements with Verizon to do the same, their updates would be pushed out the same way.
No, Apple can do that because Verizon WANTED their phone on their network and Apple was able to dictate terms for allowing Verizon to sell the device. They ALSO had a tried and true software platform from which to push the updates on their own.
If Samsung were to prevent their phones from being sold on a provider unless Samsung were able to push out updates via their own software and their phones were popular enough, it is possible Verizon and/or other providers would cave if their phones were popular enough. It may very well backfire, though. One point of contention about providing updates via this method is that iTunes supplied by Apple is a MUCH more robust piece of software than Samsung's offering of Kies(for example) which in comparison is a piece of junk which only works when it feels like it. Until other manufacturers are able to get a better software platform in which to push updates, it is VERY doubtful other manufacturers would even attempt to have control over the updates. They NEED Verizon's network to successfully push out the updates if the software they provide is mediocre at best.
