Verizon is beginning to stage and slowly roll out the long-awaited Android 2.1 update for the Motorola Droid. The update began rolling out at noon EDT for 1000 users, with another 9000 users receiving notifications tonight before midnight EDT ahead of a wider rollout on Thursday according to the internal memo found at the Read More link.
Starting 03/30/2010, Verizon Wireless is pleased to announce a new software update for the DROID by Motorola. Users will be able to upgrade their software to version AP: ESE81/BP: C_01.3E.03P to receive new improvements and enhancements.
*Key Advantages:*
o Email – Yahoo Mail is now supported – customers can simply
sign in with their Yahoo! Email address and password. Note:
Yahoo! Email is not available over Wi-Fi
o Pinch to Zoom now available in the Browser, Maps, and Gallery
o Speech-to-Text – Customers can now use their voice instead
of typing whenever a text-entry box appears
o Google Goggles is now preloaded
o The new Gallery application uses 3D layout and shows both
pictures taken with the customer’s Android device and images
from Picasa Web Albums account online
*Software Schedule:*
Below is the software-upgrade notification schedule (All times listed are Eastern Time):
o At noon on 03/30, 1,000 users will receive notification of
the update.
o At 11:59 PM on 03/30, 9,000 more users will receive the
update notification.
o After the first 10,000 users receive the update on 03/30,
there will be a 24-hour period when no additional upgrades
will be delivered.
o On Day 3 (04/01), 200,000 users will receive the update
notification at 11:59 PM. This schedule will continue each
day thereafter until the update has been delivered to all users.
*Download & Install Conditions:*
o An OTA download requires 40% or more power availability if
the device is not connected to an external power source or
20% or more power if it is connected to an external source
o If roaming, the customer will not receive the update. The
only option in this scenario is for the subscriber to enable
Wi-Fi and wait for a mandatory OTA. The wait period in this
case will not be more than 12 hours
o User must wait to receive the upgrade via OTA
o User is unable to make or receive calls, including emergency
calls during this time
o Users will see the following information when they select*
More info* on the update screen:/ This software update
includes new enhancements to support Yahoo! Email,
pinch-to-zoom, and many other improvements for your DROID by
Motorola. You will be unable to use your device or make
emergency calls for the duration of the install. The
software updates automatically, and your DROID will power
off and on as part of this software upgrade.
Good one.. you almost got me 😉
I can’t believe it took them this long to get it rolling out. I hope it’s worth the wait!
Im with sprint but I was using my friends droid and it is a very solid device and very smooth. This is going to make this phone a lot better. If this phone is great imagine what the HTC Evo is going to be? I wonder if sprint will ever get the droid or something like it? Either way this is a great phone for verizon. Hopefully update doesn’t take more than 20 minutes.