Android 2.2 Update Crashes O2 Phones

O2 began rolling out the Android 2.2 “Froyo” software update to customers using HTC Desire handsets on Monday, but pulled the update after a number of users reported the software crashed their phones.

Froyo has been heavily promoted as a competitor to devices such as Apple’s iPhone 4. It boosts the handset’s performance and allows the device to be used as a wireless hotspot, as well as adding HD video recording, Adobe Flash support and other features.

On Monday, O2 Desire users were prompted to install the update as an over-the-air download. However, some users reported that, following the installation process, the handsets would no longer boot.

Desire crash

“My Desire is stuck at the boot screen,” wrote one user on an O2 forum. “Yep, stuck on the blue O2 screen as well,” wrote another.

Other users reported the update was running smoothly. “Mine installed, no problems,” wrote one user. “I chose to install it over Wi-Fi, and the update took about 20 minutes.”

O2 confirmed the update had been pulled for further testing.

“The Android 2.2 Froyo update for HTC Desire went live on O2 this morning,” the operator said in a Monday statement. “While many have been able to download it successfully, we have had a small number of reports of customers having problems installing the software, which we are looking into. While we investigate these issues, we’re putting the 2.2 update on hold.”

Android 2.2

HTC introduced Android 2.2 for its handsets in early August, and it is being rolled out gradually by operators, following testing. Orange said it will distribute the update to Desire users in mid-September.

Vodafone is also offering Android 2.2 to its users, following a misunderstanding in mid-August that led some users to mistakenly download the operator’s Vodafone 360 service. Vodafone began updating its Desire users with the software in late August, according to reports.

Meanwhile, Huawei announced a $99 (£65) Android 2.2 device at the beginning of this month.