Android gave them the option to return to doing what they did best.
Did any of them take that option? The first thing I do when I get a new Android phone is to re-image it with what Google provides. Samsung and HTC have shown that all the hardware makers can do is write crap software to replace the working software they got for free. And then never ever even think about updating it or fixing the bugs.
Most handset makers already had large software departments at the time they made the switch to Android. I guess they needed to give them something to do? Either way, ZTE and Huawei seem to do pretty well with near-AOSP roms.
Did any of them take that option? The first thing I do when I get a new Android phone is to re-image it with what Google provides. Samsung and HTC have shown that all the hardware makers can do is write crap software to replace the working software they got for free. And then never ever even think about updating it or fixing the bugs.