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Orange UK 2.1 update news

@ Taffy.....
Be VERY careful! that update will be tailored for that specific device.
however- feel free to try it on your phone and tell us if it works.... lol!

I don't know where to go from here regarding the official update... have been contacting both HTC and Orange almost daily all to no avail!

HTC helpful, it is clear they are frustrated with Orange too.
Orange couldn't care less about communicating with their customers!
 
Sorry to go on about this, but I still don't get it:

Look, I can buy an android phone sim-free, ie. not locked to any network.

I can put an Orange sim card in it, and it will work, right? Nobody has tinkered with the radio or any part of the phone specifically for Orange, because it's a sim-free phone. It will work fine on any network, including Orange.

If the phone manufacturer offers a firmware upgrade, be it to 2.1, or anything else for that matter, the phone will still work with any network's sim card, surely?

Surely, the whole point of a network selling a 'locked' phone is just to make sure the user pays that particular network for their calls, texts, data etc.

So, in a nutshell: Why do Orange need to test, or play around with any of the settings or firmware on my phone before I can use it on the Orange network, when they wouldn't have this privilege with a sim-free phone?
 
Beauborg said:
Sorry to go on about this, but I still don't get it:

Look, I can buy an android phone sim-free, ie. not locked to any network.

I can put an Orange sim card in it, and it will work, right? Nobody has tinkered with the radio or any part of the phone specifically for Orange, because it's a sim-free phone. It will work fine on any network, including Orange.

If the phone manufacturer offers a firmware upgrade, be it to 2.1, or anything else for that matter, the phone will still work with any network's sim card, surely?

Surely, the whole point of a network selling a 'locked' phone is just to make sure the user pays that particular network for their calls, texts, data etc.

So, in a nutshell: Why do Orange need to test, or play around with any of the settings or firmware on my phone before I can use it on the Orange network, when they wouldn't have this privilege with a sim-free phone?
Click to expand...

It's not only the fact your locked to their network so you can't change it's also with a branded phone you get all of the orange crap stuff ie sim tool kit and orange web browser thing and the services.

Also the testing isn't just for the update, they have to load all the orange software onto it and test it, making sure it's stable etc, the thing I dont understand is that orange and tmobile have merged, so if tmobile can release, why can't orange? if there under the same company umbrella?!
 
They may be the same company and under the same umbrella, but they are still different networks, with different equipment.

As I said earlier, what constitutes branding? Beyond the "gunmetal" finish, splash screen, the logo on the back of the phone, and the fact the default browser goes to the Orange homepage, my Orange bought and locked phone has NO Orange apps or branding. Therefore for this to be an issue (unless Orange really are incompetant), the "branding" has to affect something fundamental on the phone.

We already know that Orange branded phones have custom firmware, so perhaps branded phones must have something locked out in the firmware or potentially in the hardware (or even custom hardware!), tied to the networks frequency? Many people have reported problems when rooting their Orange branded phones, or goldcarding after all....

I dunno, but it seems to me Orange have done something more than just use a generic device, and perhaps this is identified through the custom gunmetal phones rather than the generic white ones?
 
Well like a lot of you here I have been waiting for the update ever since I got my Hero in October 2009. I had heard about the speed issues with the phone but, seeing as it was due to be upgraded to Android 1.6, obviously this wasn't an issue so I went ahead with getting the phone.
Have now grown very tired of waiting for the update, thought the July 1st deadline would finally be the end of waiting but yet again problems seem to arise to push this back for Orange Hero users.
I have never been confident enough to look in to rooting the phone and, seeing as dates were constantly proposed for the official 2.1 being released I was more than happy to wait.
Decided enough was enough a few weeks ago and phoned up Orange to have them send me the unlock code so I could have an unlocked phone and hope that this would mean that as my phone was not locked to solely Orange then I would be able to receive the OTA update, or at the very least download 2.1 from HTC.
I waited the 14 days for the code and had still not received it so phoned them up today to complain about not having the code. The first person I spoke to told me the code had been sent the day after I asked for it which I doubted very much seeing as I check my emails each day. So she then spoke to the unlocking people who happened to be sitting next to her and I was told the code would be sent within half hour after I had told her that someone from customer service had told me a few days ago that if I didn't have the code within 14 days then I would be refunded the
 
James Blonde said:
They may be the same company and under the same umbrella, but they are still different networks, with different equipment.

As I said earlier, what constitutes branding? Beyond the "gunmetal" finish, splash screen, the logo on the back of the phone, and the fact the default browser goes to the Orange homepage, my Orange bought and locked phone has NO Orange apps or branding. Therefore for this to be an issue (unless Orange really are incompetant), the "branding" has to affect something fundamental on the phone.

We already know that Orange branded phones have custom firmware, so perhaps branded phones must have something locked out in the firmware or potentially in the hardware (or even custom hardware!), tied to the networks frequency? Many people have reported problems when rooting their Orange branded phones, or goldcarding after all....

I dunno, but it seems to me Orange have done something more than just use a generic device, and perhaps this is identified through the custom gunmetal phones rather than the generic white ones?
Click to expand...

But wouldn't you think the driver for the hero would have been looked at when HTC said 2.1 was coming to orange AND when android release the default android 2.1 code.

Wouldn't it have made sense to say to htc, bung us a clean build of android 2.1 so we can check the radio drivers work.

Sense is after all just a gui, not the actual core bits that make everything work.

Orange have had plenty of time to prepare.
 
EternalVictor said:
Well like a lot of you here I have been waiting for the update ever since I got my Hero in October 2009. I had heard about the speed issues with the phone but, seeing as it was due to be upgraded to Android 1.6, obviously this wasn't an issue so I went ahead with getting the phone.
Have now grown very tired of waiting for the update, thought the July 1st deadline would finally be the end of waiting but yet again problems seem to arise to push this back for Orange Hero users.
I have never been confident enough to look in to rooting the phone and, seeing as dates were constantly proposed for the official 2.1 being released I was more than happy to wait.
Decided enough was enough a few weeks ago and phoned up Orange to have them send me the unlock code so I could have an unlocked phone and hope that this would mean that as my phone was not locked to solely Orange then I would be able to receive the OTA update, or at the very least download 2.1 from HTC.
I waited the 14 days for the code and had still not received it so phoned them up today to complain about not having the code. The first person I spoke to told me the code had been sent the day after I asked for it which I doubted very much seeing as I check my emails each day. So she then spoke to the unlocking people who happened to be sitting next to her and I was told the code would be sent within half hour after I had told her that someone from customer service had told me a few days ago that if I didn't have the code within 14 days then I would be refunded the
Click to expand...
 
Speaking to a mate down the pub tonight who has the Orange branded Hero. Same problems with it as many others. 4 weeks ago he kicked off big time with HTC who finally caved in and had the phone in for repair. Phone returned yesterday with no improvement, same Android 1.5, same firmware version same everything. Rang and asked what they'd done to it, just re-installed the latest Orange Rom (the 1.5 he already had on it from the HTC website). Explained how its not fixed a single fault with it. Well HTCs response was a joke. The warranty only covers the hardware. As the hardware is working fine its a software fault. This faulty software is nothing whatsoever to do with HTC as its Oranges own tweaked/screwed up attempt. This is not covered by HTC, turns out its not covered by Orange either. Oranges handset faults departments answer - by an iphone 4 unlocked from apple website then pay Orange an extra
 
All,

I set up the Facebook group called "Orange UK-Give HTC Hero Owners the 2.1 Update- NOW"

Thanks to forum members who have joined our action group. We now have 307 members, and climbing.

I promised to write to Orange when membership reached 100, 250, and 500. My two letters can be seen in the "Discussions" section of the board. Role on 500.

The link for the Facebook group is

Orange UK - Give HTC Hero owners the 2.1 Update - NOW. | Facebook

I'll post again if/when we hit 500.
 
EternalVictor said:
Then I found out that the code did not work.
Click to expand...

I had a problem unlocking my Orange Hero after purchasing an unlock code from Fleabay. Turns out that I needed to upgrade to the 2.73.61.66 ROM build first. After the upgrade the code worked fine - now running Orange branded hero on O2. This info is probably irrelevant as you need to downgrade the rom if want to root.

I also have been waiting for the offical 2.1 release but think I'll maybe have a go at rooting and installing VillianRom 12 at the weekend.
 
eskimo said:
I had a problem unlocking my Orange Hero after purchasing an unlock code from Fleabay. Turns out that I needed to upgrade to the 2.73.61.66 ROM build first. After the upgrade the code worked fine - now running Orange branded hero on O2. This info is probably irrelevant as you need to downgrade the rom if want to root.

I also have been waiting for the offical 2.1 release but think I'll maybe have a go at rooting and installing VillianRom 12 at the weekend.
Click to expand...

Eskimo - I'm in the same boat as you, bought an Orange phone on eBay and unlocked it after upgrading my phone to 2.73.61.66; unlock code cost
 
Spoken to Oranges Chief Execs Office, there will be no 2.1 update on Monday. It's still in testing due to ongoing problems and its not been passed to HTC who are the ones who ultimately release it over the air. No comment on some of the emails Orange have sent to customers indicating 2.1 may never appear.

The best I could get was an offer from Orange to supply me with a new Orange branded handset but this came with 2 conditions.

1. I send my Hero handset to Orange to see if they can repair it, if they
can or claim they have repaired it then I keep my orange branded Hero. If
they can't I can have the next option.

2. I have a new Orange branded mobile phone & restart my 18 month contract
from scratch.

Option 2 I was talked into last time after having problems with a HTC handset that again suffered with major Orange software issues, now I'm back in the same position 13 months on. My answer - :mad: well its not one that I can repeat on here, needless to say I refused both options. Yet more proof that Orange really couldn't care less about its customers. Sorry folks, wish it was better news.
 
Right, I just got off the phone to orange (spoke to a lad who is also waiting for the 2.1 update-how ironic). He spent about 5 mins chcking his system etc and...he gave me a date! "Apparently" all orabge customers will get a text about it and the download will be sent out on 27th July (next Tuesday). I asked if this is... set in stone or if its just to put us all off the scent. He said its deffinate as far as he can see.
Really hope this is the case, I guess we shall just have to wait and see. Fingers crossed
 
Have been following this thread intently, and as positive as dannybody_06's post sounds... Oranges customer support team lie, a lot. There have been several occasions where "I'll give you a call back in a couple of days" has been said to me, still waiting on a call 2 months on from the last time they said that.

Gonna grab a hot cuppa and stick Villain's latests on. FroydVillain looks like it could be the choice for me, fancy me some Froyo.
 
I'm not one to kick up big masses of fuss about this, but this is seriously starting to annoy me.

As an ex employee of Orange (Not mobile side, Broadband), I am shocked at how they think they will achieve this customer service goal if they can't even commit to a date!...

I have also proposed a way of giving info from Orange to us as stated here..I hope Richard would be so kind to reply.
Android Forums - Orange HTC Hero Eclair update
 
Sorry for going slightly off topic.

Tried to root, fell at the very first hurdle, phones back to factory settings and all my data has been lost.

I used to really love this phone now I don't care if it falls under a bus, very p'd off at Orange and very annoyed with myself for trying to root and install a custom ROM.

I genuinely don't think we'll see 2.1 on our Orange Hero's. I'll probably sell the Hero and buy an unlocked iphone4.

I cannot recommend Orange to anybody, their customer "service" is a joke, they won't even admit they've done anything wrong.

Cheers Al
 
Randy said:
Lol, sorry its Saturday night and most of us don't have time to type an answer to that one. :D
Click to expand...

Well this guy has lost all of his data (through not following diligent backup procedures) when trying to do something to his phone which is not recommended/supported by the manufacturer, never mind his network. All because his network hasn't rolled out an update, which they are under no contractual obligation to do - yet still its someone else's fault?
 
I think I was about the 9th person to join.

What have Orange done wrong?

Well they haven't kept their customers, some of whom are paying very large contracts, informed or updated about the upgrade, you only have to read this thread to see the misinformation they are giving their "valued" customers.

How many guesstimates have they given about the release of an upgrade that is already available to their competitors.

How many times have their valued customers been given completely misleading information, even simple information like how the upgrade will be released, some of their staff will tell you it's only available over the air, others will tell you to keep visiting the HTC site.

I spoke to a customer service representative during the week who didn't even have a clue what Android was.

Orange have made mistake after mistake, they know it, we know it, the dugs in the street know it.

As for me rooting and trying to install a custom version of 2.1 I'll happily admit I got it wrong, I didn't care about backing up the phone, there was nothing to lose and everything to gain. I sort of knew it was beyond me but what the hell I tried it anyway, it took me a little over an afternoon to reinstall all my apps, phone numbers, emails ect ect. My fault not Orange.

Oh and by the by because I downgraded the rom before trying to root I'll have to go through the process again and upgrade to the latest official rom, again my mistake, but I've said it already I used to love this phone, I don't care if I brick it, I might even try to root it again in the hope that I do brick it.

Cheers Al
 
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