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.

The HTC Desire

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.

Matthew Broersma

Matt Broersma is a long standing tech freelance, who has worked for Ziff-Davis, ZDnet and other leading publications

View Comments

  • This update is completely unneccesary and completely messed up my phone. It was working fine before, now Internet crashes, reception keeps dying, it's completely messy and annoying. I am thinking of switching to iPhone.

  • Loving 2.2 update , wireless tethering is awesome and flash works a treat definitely seems to run apps faster, I can now put my beloved iPhone out to rest now,

  • Isn't it strange no one on a generic phone unbranded who received the update nearly six weeks ago have problemss only when the operators mess around with it putting all there crap on it goes wrong.
    Don't switch to I phone and be a sheep stick with android its cool if only Orange,Vodafone,three and o2 would leave alone and let users download the Rom as original,don't blame the phone blame the operators .
    Ask any one who buys sim free phones you get updates first and the phone works as it should .

  • @Justyna: Don't believe the iPhone hype - their recent upgrade also caused issues for users. A smartphone and its operating system are increasingly complex creations; some issues are to be expected when you make a major change.

    Far more people on all the platforms have had more issues with bad apps than they have with OS upgrades. Which is a gentle way of suggesting you remove some apps, or even try a factory reset (any apps you have paid for will be reinstallable for free, assuming you remember your GMail details).

  • @ Chris Puttick - Hi Chris. Thank you for 'the gentle way' but I don't have many apps running on my android at the moment so can't remove them . And as for facory reset my phone already resetted itself twice, erasing my contacts etc due to the new upgrade. I understand it's not an issue for everyone but for me it works slower and reception dies all the time. I actually use o2 and thus the comment on this article. Maybe you're the lucky user who did not get affected by the upgrade. I, unfortunately, am not.

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