Sony confirmed in a blog post that its Android 5.1 update for the Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z2 device family is rolling out now. Devices including the Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact, Z3 Tablet Compact, Xperia Z2, and Z2 Tablet are part of this current wave of software releases.

As always, if you have a carrier device you may have to wait a few weeks or months for your network operator to give its approval to the software. If you have the unlocked model, however, you could see the update any day now. Be sure to keep checking for updates in your settings menu if you haven’t already received a notification to download the OTA.

Included in the Android 5.1 Lollipop update are the following new features:

• Increased customisation options – so you have even more control over the way volume, silent modes and your alerts function
• Brand new LinkedIn integration – be more productive with intuitive contact synchronisation in your Calendar
• Camera improvements – with faster, more accurate Superior Auto Mode focus for great images, regardless of conditions
• Enhanced enterprise support – with our latest Xperia in Business features for work
• SmartWear integration – selfie snapping made that bit easier, with SmartWatch 3 as a remote shutter button

Older Xperia products will be getting the update “over the coming weeks”, according to Sony. Devices like the Z1, Z1 Compact and Xperia Z Ultra will be first in line before the T2 Ultra, Xperia C3 and original Xperia Z are updated a little while later.

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If you own an Xperia Z1, Z2 or Z3 handset and are eagerly awaiting an update to Lollipop, Sony announced on its blog that it currently has the latest ASOP version of Android in testing ahead of a planned rollout next year.

This week Google released the source code for Android 5.0; Lollipop – and to celebrate that we have the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) version up and running on Xperia Z1, Xperia Z2 ….and Xperia Z3

There will be a beta-test program for Xperia Z3 and Xperia Z3 Compact devices, but the bad news is that this will initially be limited to Swedish owners on the 3 network. Developers, however, will be able to get their hands on the binary files “soon.”

We are working to provide you with the necessary binary files as soon as we can. Once you have them, these binaries can be used as a base for compiling your own custom version of Android, together with source code for AOSP device configuration from the Sonyxperiadev GitHub. Device configurations are already available for Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z2, these will be updated, and are coming soon for Xperia Z3.

Sony is one of the main contributors to the Android Open Source Project.

This morning Sony began the update process for the Xperia Z2 to Android 4.4 KitKat. According to the documentation, the update should bring along some noticeable improvements including “enhanced call quality” and “improved charging when battery is low”. It’s not clear when the rollout will be complete, but it shouldn’t be too far off so keep checking that ‘System Update’ tab in your settings for KitKat goodness.

In an effort to appeal to developers and tinkerers, Sony has made it easier to unlock the bootloaders on its Xperia devices. The company recently updated its bootloader unlocking service with a modernized look and feel that adds support for newer products like the Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z2 Tablet. Designed with a refreshed interface, the updated process is now broken into a few easy steps.

Sony’s Xperia Z2 phone is heading to Verizon, according to an alleged screenshot of an employee training module obtained by PhoneArena. This lines up with past rumors suggesting that the rugged smartphone is heading to Big Red, along with leaks of its related tablet wearing the carrier’s branding.