Fierce Technology

Last month we asked all the carriers and handset makers, What is the Android 2.0 release date for first generation phones? We didn’t get a lot of clear cut answers at the time, but several carriers have now come forward and stated their plans for Android 2.x updates.

There are currently seven Android phones in the United States running Android 1.x, so we are going to break the list down by carrier and see which are getting upgraded.

Sprint

Last time we checked with Sprint, they told us they were currently working through their options with their manufacturing partners. It appears they got everything sorted out because Sprint tweeted that both of their Android phones will be getting Android 2.1. They provided a release date of first half 2010 (my guess is Q2 2010), but at least they confirmed their intentions.

• HTC Hero – Yes, 1H 2010
• Samsung Moment – Yes, 1H 2010

We are still waiting to find out how these major updates will be rolled out. Sprint initially indicated there would be wired updates, but that is subject to change.

T-Mobile

For most of 2009, we have known T-Mobile to provide regular updates to their Android handsets. After the last Android 1.6 rollout, we have been left wondering if we would receive anymore. T-Mobile has told us they were coordinating with Google to deliver Android 2.0, but they have not specified which devices may receive it.

We recently saw HTC go on record and tell us no updates were planned for their Rogers Wireless Dream and Magic phones, so it would not be surprising to see a similar announcement for T-Mobile. However, both the Dream (G1) and Magic (MT3G) also serve as official Android Developer Phones, so we hope Google will continue to support them.

Things are not looking too good for the Motorola CLIQ. It recently received an update, but it focused on bug fixes and left the firmware at Android 1.5. The last time we asked Motorola about Android 2.0 coming to the CLIQ, they basically said to get a Droid to experience the latest version of Android. We also reported on a rumor that the CLIQ could be stuck on Android 1.x and have seen nothing to dispute that yet.

Samsung Behold II owners are the only T-Mobile customers who have something to look forward to right now. Their device shipped with Android 1.5, but Samsung said Android 2.0 would be made available “when it arrives”. The announcement came from a YouTube video, but it is better than nothing. Since Samsung is also updating their Sprint Moment, I would say things look good for the Behold II.

• HTC G1 – Unknown
• HTC myTouch 3G – Unknown
• Motorola CLIQ – Unknown
• Samsung Behold II – Yes, “when it arrives”

Hopefully, T-Mobile will give us an answer on their other phones soon (even if the answer is no).

Verizon Wireless

Verizon was the carrier that launched the first Android 2.0 phone (Droid), but they also have the Android 1.5 powered HTC Droid Eris. Last time we asked Verizon about updates, they could not provide any additional information.

HTC told us Verizon had to request an update and it looks like that is what happened after customers spoke out. Information Week reported that a Verizon rep confirmed an Android 2.0 update for the HTC Droid Eris sometime in Q1 2010.

• HTC Droid Eris – Yes, Q1 2010

It was not exactly an official press release, but we will take it.

((( VIA AndroidAndMe )))