One of the great things about Android is that, like the iPhone, it’s an upgradeable OS. Except when either the telco the phone uses or the handset manufacturer decides that offering that upgrade is too much trouble like Motorola has done with most of its Aussie Android handsets.
As pointed out by Buzz on Ausdroid, the Motorola support forums has updated its planned software update for its handsets around the world. And for all handsets that saw release in Australia other than the Milestone, the company has decided to leave the phones running the already out-of-date 1.5 version of the OS.
To quote the announcement, the Dext, Quench and Backflip phones in the Asia Pacific region “will remain on Android 1.5 for the best combined hardware and software experience”.
Which translates roughly from corporate speak to English as “F*ck you!”
This is a shockingly short-sighted move from Motorola. Considering they decided to move to the open Android platform as a way of saving their handset business from the brink of ruin, the decision to leave all the early Android customers without an upgrade path will do nothing more than guarantee that most of them will never buy a Motorola phone ever again.
So if you happen to be on contract with a Dext, Quench or Backflip, you’re shit out of luck. If you were thinking of buying one of these phones, don’t. I’d probably recommend steering clear of the Milestone too – even though they’re planning a Froyo update next year, given Motorola’s decision to leave all other phones high and dry on 1.5, would you really want to risk it?
[Ausdroid - Thanks Tony!]
MaZ
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 10:07 AMAnd this is why I bought my backflip from the US.
Jake D
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 10:27 AMI don’t understand.
I don’t have an Android phone (Nokia 5110 all the way!) so maybe I need a little expaining here. But isn’t Android aimed at the kind of nerd who can upgrade his phone’s OS by himself, without waiting for his service provider.
Isn’t this even an option?
Dave
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 12:34 PMMost manufacturers/carriers lock down the phone so that an official update is required to get the new version of Android, which will include all the manufacturer customisations, such as MotoBlur or HTC Sense. To further complicate things, the carrier, i.e. Optus, then needs to add and test any preloaded apps they ship with the phone.
The nerdy types can root their phone, which isn’t as kinky as it sounds, it simply means gaining root access (administrator access) to the OS. Once that is done, custom community-developed ROMs can be downloaded and installed. I believe there’s an Android 2.1 ROM in development for the DEXT/BlackFlip/Quench based on the US version of the phone which is getting the 2.1 update – Motorola only care about the US market.
There’s been plenty of discussion on the official Motorola forums about this with many complaints from Latin American customers. Motorola won’t listen or care, but if you feel the need to vent then head over to https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/30308 and tell them how much they suck.
lostincanberra
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 2:29 PMThanks Dave. Vented. Done.
Perhaps I should be talking to Optus too about returning my lemon? It isn’t that good a phone and battery life is very ordinary even on conservative settings – and most of the Apps that I seem half interested in won’t work on 1.5!
Live and learn… or not.
Ozoneocean
Friday, September 24, 2010 at 1:00 PMNo, Android isn’t aimed at nerds. No phone system is. Nerds don’t give you any market share.
All phones go for the “cool”, “hip” factor, which Android currently embodies most and which is why it’s picking up share so fast… and why Nokia is losing- because it slipped in the “cool” factor.
-That’s independent of the utility of the phone and has more to do with perception- ie. Apple products.
You can upgrade or change or alter things with any smart phone, depending on what’s available, and it’s just as difficult with them all.
SK
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 11:37 AMI gave up on motorola years ago. I got a RAZR on a somewhat expensive plan soon after it was released, only to find it on prepaid about a year later. Also, this particular phone was a pile of crap which i hated every time i opened it up.
I seriously feel bad for anyone I see walking out of a phone shop with a motorola box
Craig Baldie
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 1:24 PMand thats why i’m sticking with Nokia
Myk
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 1:40 PMI suspect a lot of purchasers of the low-end Android phones aren’t going to car about not being able to upgrade their phone. I used the same OS version on my last phone for five years!
David Anderton
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 2:26 PMFuck Moto, HTC all the way
@motoFAIL_BR
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 2:51 PMHello,
We started a campaign against Motorola some weeks ago here in Brazil. It’s called #motofail We made them rethink about the Milestone upgrade, which they were not going to give us and now, it’s promissed to someday next year, maybe march. But as much as we said about the Android 1.5 devices, (I’m a Quench owner) about the bugs, that they’re outdated, they didn’t even give us a f*cking single answer. They simply ignored us. Well, at least lot of us won’t buy a #motofail ever again. And we’re convincing other people to do the same! Well, tweet #motofail and let all of us be noticed world wide!
Steve
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 2:58 PMHow long have these phones been available in Australia for? Couldn’t be more than 6 months. Looks like they’re already obsolete. And if not, then they’re pretty close to being so.
Now, when I purchase a phone on a 2 year contract, I’d hope that my phone would not be made redundant after a quarter of the time my contract runs for.
But alas, Motorola doesn’t care for its international customers. And whilst I’m sure that we don’t make up a huge percentage of it’s consumer base, their whole debacle over the delay for updates on all their android based phones at home in the U.S, combined with the ever growing number of disgruntled international consumers, will come back and bite them in the arse.
Motorola have so much potential to be a big player in the handheld market, but I fear that a narrow minded approach will lead to their downfall.
Christian Ancora
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 2:59 PMDoesn’t really change much.
Anyone who was hoping for the update likely already knows that the effected handsets have been rooted, and for at least the dext there’s already a 2.1 ROM available.
Moto can shove its 2.1 blur where the sun don’t shine.
Andrew Craick
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 3:27 PMin some ways its actually good they’ve come out and said this. Alot of companies just dont release anything and leave customers waiting for stuff to come but never does i.e. looking at you Sony\PS3\PlayTV
At least they had the balls to admit it. In saying this future customers can be aware and avoid if they are worried about it.
ChrisK
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7:43 PMAfter 2 emails to Motorola and no reply I took to calling them up.
‘Apparently’ the reason Australian Backflips and the rest aren’t getting an update is because of the way Optus’ network is configured.
Che?
Speaking to Optus lead to a game of ‘It’s not us, its them…’.
The Moto rep then proceeded to talk me into getting a Milestone..ahuh…too bad I’m on that 2 year contract.
Custom ROM anyone?
Luiz Guilherme
Friday, September 24, 2010 at 12:55 AMHello ChrisK,
They are contradictory, because if the problem is “the way Optus’ network is configured”, why it would work on Milestone?!
The upgrade works for one model and not for another?!
HA HA HA
I am not an expert, but what they said is not getting through.
Ozoneocean
Friday, September 24, 2010 at 1:03 PMYes, the Motorola rep was either lying or a cretin. It’s just a way to trick you into paying money for a new handset.
Eddie C Silva
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 9:32 PMCongratulations Gizmodo for reporting the reality without mincing words – here in South America, the revolt was the same stance with Motorola’s unfortunate that the local blogs were not as clear in their stance. Thanks!
Jeronimo
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 10:41 PMJoin us (latin america) in campaigning (#motofail) on twitter!!!
Luiz Guilherme
Friday, September 24, 2010 at 12:21 AMI am from Brasil, and I have a Quench, they will not provide the upgrade for NON-us customers at all.
They say “Will remain on Android 1.5 for the best combined hardware and software experience”.
But CLIQ XT and QUENCH have the same hardware, you can verify it at the motorola webpage below:
http://developer.motorola.com/products/cliqxt/
So, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? Oh, I just had an insight, may be Android 2.1/2.2 doesn’t work properly for NON-US customers!!!
Please, Gizmodo, share this article to all NON-US Gizmodo, and help us to make some noise.
I work at a company that says, client first, company second, but it seems that it doesn’t apply to motorola.
Thank you for this article, lets start a revolution.
Rogerio
Friday, September 24, 2010 at 3:15 AMCongratulations Gizmodo. I live in Brazil, and I have a Motorola Dext, stucked on Android 1.5.
I’m really disapointed with this situation, because the phone is expensive and already outdated, has a lot of bugs and no support.
I gave up from Motorola and I am seeking for an alternative ROM. Pure Android with no Motoblur…
#Motofail a lot!
Travis
Friday, September 24, 2010 at 9:25 AMAre the US customers actually to believe that they are the only backflip customers in the world that will receive 2.1? It would fit into the typical Americans view on the world but lets be realistic. No other backflip customer in the world has gotten an official 2.1 upgrade and they won’t. I think American customers might as well just root it and get 2.1 themselves…
britto
Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 1:48 PMhaha fail for motorala looks like its alternate rom all the way ;) btw anyone know a good website for alternate rom for backflip?
p.s screw u motorola!