Verizon is set to shortly release a long-awaited update for the Verizon Wireless XV6900, Verizon’s version of the HTC Touch.
First, the update will upgrade the device to Windows Mobile 6.1. It also adds EV-DO Rev A. Both of these updates have already been on all other versions of the HTC Touch in the United States, their absence has been one of the largest complaints about the device. Verizon is about to leapfrog the XV6900 with their version of the Touch Pro taking the top slot… and it will carry Windows Mobile 6.1. Verizon hopes to release this update before then, to ensure XV6900 owners aren’t angered further.
The update also adds VZ Navigator, expected from the earlier release for the XV6800. And, like the XV6800, Verizon will lock down the GPS to only work with VZ Navigator. Despite Verizon’s earlier claim that they will work with third-party Windows Mobile developers, no application has been certified for Verizon LBS since our reporting.
Hackers have already bypassed Verizon’s lockdown of GPS services on the XV6800, and it appears the same workaround functions on the XV6900.
Finally, the update adds Opera Mobile to the XV6900. The XV6900 was notably missing Opera Mobile, which the Sprint version shipped with pre-installed. This update will resolve that disparity.
And, we’re hosting the download, way ahead of Verizon’s release. To get the update, head on over to the HTC Vogue (XV6900) page of our Phone Encyclopedia, linked below:
Wow. I downloaded the update. Who is brave enough to try it first?? 🙂
We’ve tested the update and found it to be problem-free. But, please do post back with your after-update experiences.
In the past, reader feedback from PhoneNews.com has helped the industry find bugs, and even tweak releases right before they are posted online… but this update (being approved) should not void your warranty in any way.
As such, it’s very low risk, and we have no problem encouraging readers to give it a go.
….”Hackers have already bypassed Verizon’s lockdown of GPS services on the XV6800, and it appears the same workaround functions on the XV6900.”……………..
Has anyone actually tested it after the ROM update though???
Yes. I upgraded my stock XV6900 to 6.1 using the official ROM then patched with the GPS fix from the link below, and it works great!
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=VerizonAGPSFix
tender – you state that you got the GPS to work from the link. Did you do the custom install or the ‘already have MR1 install’. I have trid the later and failed…
A follow up to my post – my phone became de-activated on Verizon, i had to call in and get it activated. Once that happened all was well – including the GPS ‘fix’ listed prior!
Well, mine is working. 🙂
Remote desktop mobile is in this ROM. Verizon had yanked it out under 6.0 and I had to put a hacked copy on. huh.
Yes, I had to call in and reactivate mine as well.
does this upgrade fix the ‘missed calls’ problem?
What missed call problem?
Phone won’t wakeup to calls after it falls asleep, then when you push the button to wake it up, you get bombarded with ‘incoming call, missed call, voice message’ notifications all at once and the phone does this half ring thing with the incoming call notification. Maybe there has been a software fix for this (temporary solution is a soft or hard reset every 2-3 days), but I haven’t found it in the threads I search. Many other owners of this phone experience it as well, seems to be more common than a random bug. I have exchanged the phone several times with vzw customer service to no avail.
Same BS happends to me. WTF?? i cant believe it hasnt happend to anyone else??
Also, I DL’d the update, and when i run the installer, everything goes fine, but as soon as my device “goes to sleep” the instal stops and sends an error???
It is with tremendous appreciation of the author of this article that I gladly downloaded and installed the update. The overall function of the phone is so much faster, especially while in sync with the PC. I had to dial #8899 to reactivate the phone, as *228, option 1 seemed to do it but actually did not. I have not activated my data yet (will do so Sunday, the 1st day of my next billing cycle). My home town is still not in the instant weather list, bummer. Thanks to Tender for the link to the xda forum and the GPS hack. Without it, we’d be forced to use a GPS receiver puck to effectively use Live Search or Google maps.
This update will truly make the 6900 worthy of its standing. Bottoms up!!
I did download the update and installed it and aftewards had to call verizon to get the phone authenticated again. I also dowloaded the GPS “fix” http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=VerizonAGPSFix from here and followed the instructions at the bottom of the page and it worked like a charm.
Downloaded the Google maps and windows live and the GPS worked just fine in both.
I would recommend that if you had previous applications installed on your storage card to completely remove them from your storage card and then install the app, my emoze application was giving me errors but once I uinstalled the app, deleted the folder on the storage card, and re-installed the app it hasn’t had any issues. I imagine other apps could possiby do the same so just be aware.
The “GPS Fix” mentioned above: I wondering what exactly it does. Without it, is the GPS on the 6900 locked in to VZ Navigator only?? Anyone tried this “before and after?” Thanks for any info……
Without the GPS hack, the phone will only work with VZ Navigator. After applying it, it should work with any modern Windows Mobile application supporting GPS.
Unfortunately it did not work for me. Got to about 10 percent and had a communication error. Followed the steps provided and did not fix it. I now have a phone displaying red green blue and white and the update utility will only tell me Error (328): Invalid Command “This update utility cannot be used for your PDA phone. Please check your update Utility. Any help?
The first thing I would suggest is to follow the recovery steps in the application, if any appear.
If that fails, I would restart the computer… close all applications (even systray applications) and try again.
And, when it comes to HTC updates… we do have to ask… are you running Vista or XP? While modern HTC updates are supposed to run fine on Vista, we still suggest using an XP system if at all possible. It’s what we always do internally.
I am running Vista. I tried the steps you suggested and no luck.
I was able to finish the install using another computer also running Vista. Like most I had to call in to authenticate but my phone is up and running again now with 6.1. Thanks for the help.
hey, i installed the mr1 update off that site, then installed the “Valhalla Legends GPSServer.cab” that is supposed to make the mr16.1pro update for the xv6900 able to use third party applications, i installed google maps and followed all the correct steps, and google maps still tells me that my phone is not compatible with the “my location” feature,
if those of you who have gotten the gps fix to work with the 6900, any ideas why its not working for me?
“http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=VerizonAGPSFix”
theres the site i used, the mr1 fix is at the bottom, (and the valhalla cab on that page)
Cant get aGPS to work on XV6900. Question: After updating XV6900 with new ROM do you then have to update with the MR1 update for the XV6800 before installing the aGPS fix/hack?
How do you install the update? Download to your computer, sync the phone, open the app?
How do you install the update? Download to your computer, sync the phone, open the app?
Can’t find any instructions….
I’ve successfully installed the update as well as the GPS hack and it works a treat.
One thing i have noticed is that the photo album viewer seems to lock up quite a bit. I did not have this issue with the initial ROM. It seems to lock up when zooming in on or rotating pictures. Anyone else running into this?
Other than that the browsing experience is much speedier with Rev A.
JOE, like other HTC firmware updates, you run the installer on your computer like any other PC application. Follow the on-screen instructions that appear for upgrading your XV6900.
Brian, do not install any XV6800 firmware on to the XV6900. While it shouldn’t let you, it could brick your phone if it did. Simply apply the GPS fix after upgrading with the XV6900 firmware linked in the article.
Thanks Christopher . I’ll try it when I get home. am a truck driver and won’t be home till Thanksgiving .
What should i use unlock gps to use Igo8 since I dont have VZ expensive data plan ?
………”jaxx on November 19th, 2008, 2:23 pm
What should i use unlock gps to use Igo8 since I dont have VZ expensive data plan ?……..”
Why would anyone have a smartphone without the unlimited data plan? It’s only $29.99 a month anymore these days and I remember paying 59 a few years back…..
times are though …what can i say Brent ,,,, lol …. tried different unlocks ..and still nothing …
<<>>
Without the unlock, the iGo program or any GPS program, won’t get a GPS fix unless you have an external GPS puck/receiver. VZ has locked the GPS to VZ Nav. But VZ Nav though it can be downloaded, can’t be run yet as VZ rep told me “your phone is not ready for VZ Nav. But that’s OK. For the little traveling I do, Google Maps is fine.
By the way the Valhalla GPS Un-lock program is not available any longer on the web site mentioned by Brent in a post above. I was lucky I managed to get the file before it was taken off. I wonder if VZ forced the removal of the program.
Roger, Verizon will not activate the XV6900 on VZ Navigator yet, as the update has not yet been released by them. It’s a billing issue because you have the update before the update has been released formally.
I downloaded and installed the update yesterday without a hitch, and I even was able to restore all of my programs without a problem. On the stock ROM, I had a hacked copy of the Internet Sharing tool running perfectly over both Bluetooth, and USB. However, with this new ROM, the tool no longer works. I’ve tried installing a wm6.1 fix, another hacked copy, and I made sure that the M.IP settings and everything you need to tether for free on Verizon were entered correctly. If anyone has figured out how to re-enable Internet Sharing with the new ROM, please tell me as I have no other PC internet access without it.
Am I an idiot? I am trying to install this and it keeps saying that it is not a valid pocket pc application. Am I missing something? Can someone give me a step by step on how they installed?
figured it out…guess it would help to read the posts…sorry fellas
Roger, the Valhalla unlock program is definitley still available on the site posted above. I just tried it out, and it is defintley still there. Give it another try. The cab file is about half way down the page and is called “GPSServer CAB”
hey guys… I installed the Valhalla Cab and it is not working with live or google maps…then, I try to uninstall with the cab from the link above and it won’t allow me. Anyone have any ideas?
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hello all,
Thanks for all the help listed above…I got everything installed…but I don’t have the VZ Navigator on my phone? I know you all said that Verizon wouldn’t activate it yet, but I don’t even have the program installed after I did the update.
Any ideas?
thanks
Google navigator is pretty nice. Earthcomber works if you don’t have data turned on, as it stores the maps onboard.
Do you know when Verizon will offer the update?
No offense, butI am a little nervous about going outside of the supported upgrade path.
Dustin, read the comments… you have to download it from the Verizon homepage in Internet Explorer Mobile.
Steve, we have no idea when Verizon will ship the update. They were supposed to do it before launching the Touch Pro… so it’s anybody’s guess.
hey guys… I installed the Valhalla Cab and it is not working with live or google maps…then, I try to uninstall with the cab from the link above and it won’t allow me. Anyone have any ideas?
Joe,
I had the same problem when attempting to uninstall the Valahalla Cab. You can either manually delete the files it installs, which I could not determine exactly (check out http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=424387 ) OR make sure you sync your data and perform a hard reset. But before you try any of those options I must make you aware that you MUST have a data connection on your phone in order for GPS to work. If you have a data block you must remove it.
Thanks…actually found the navigator in the mean time…but just wanted to say that my GPS works just fine with the new update…I really like the new txt message interface too, makes it actually look like a conversation.
anyone discover if this upgrade resolves the ‘missed calls’ issue mentioned in an earlier post?
So far so good on mine today. I used to have that problem too. I’ve had 3 calls and a few txt’s come through while the phone was asleep.