Rogers Dream 1.6 Update

[mathfinder]

Okay guys, I've got a called from Simon who answered behalf of Nadir Mohamed the CEO of Rogers. I wrote to Nadir a few days ago regarding the firmware upgrade. Now Simon confirmed that there will be no update for 1.6 for HTC dream. I asked about magic but he said he don't know. Now he said there's a possibility that magic may not get it too. He also said that when Rogers signed an agreement with HTC, upgrade was not part of it. He also said that if there is an upgrade, it will still a 1.5 upgrade patch, not 1.6. He said we are push them to get the 1.6 out is because of the warranty. Basically he thinks that we want to hack the phone and don't want to void the warranty. I told him that is not the case. I said to him that Rogers don't understand about android phone. He said 1.6 may have cause some problem to Rogers network and yet he told an contradicting story that Rogers will be releasing new phone with 1.6 firmware. So basically is pure BS. If other handset will run on 1.6, i don't see dream will have the same problem. Again they failed to understand why firmware upgrade is important. Anyway, my next business is going to be with Telus or Bell.

man this is some really bad news... At least we have a "clear" answer. Hope we can get out of our contracts without the fees. I still have 34 months to mine

But the thing is that some people at rogers said that they will have an update in late december, so there is still a chance this Simon is wrong.

Anyway, if Telus doesn't upgrade more thant the 2.0, it will still be better than the current 1.5.

 

[TinBasher77]

Well 55 people have signed so far which is good. However with that last letter from Rogers it would seem to me that the Android phone is a doomed device in Canada. Hopefully I'm way off on that because I love the phone and I think it's the best thing since sliced bread!

I haven't given up hope yet though, we as consumers do have rights and if we all push hard enough and get enough attention we can make Rogers and other companies listen to us and get them to change their tune.

Of course maybe someone will come up with a sure fire way of rooting a Rogers Android phone, much like installing a Windows or Mac program, one click and that's it !

 

[TinBasher77]

Just found this on Twitter!

Rogers still mum on Android 1.6 Update issue | HelioDePot Reviews - Most Recent Cell Phones and Accessories

 

[GreatBigDog]

Okay guys, I've got a called from Simon who answered behalf of Nadir Mohamed the CEO of Rogers. I wrote to Nadir a few days ago regarding the firmware upgrade. Now Simon confirmed that there will be no update for 1.6 for HTC dream. I asked about magic but he said he don't know. Now he said there's a possibility that magic may not get it too. He also said that when Rogers signed an agreement with HTC, upgrade was not part of it. He also said that if there is an upgrade, it will still a 1.5 upgrade patch, not 1.6. He said we are push them to get the 1.6 out is because of the warranty. Basically he thinks that we want to hack the phone and don't want to void the warranty. I told him that is not the case. I said to him that Rogers don't understand about android phone. He said 1.6 may have cause some problem to Rogers network and yet he told an contradicting story that Rogers will be releasing new phone with 1.6 firmware. So basically is pure BS. If other handset will run on 1.6, i don't see dream will have the same problem. Again they failed to understand why firmware upgrade is important. Anyway, my next business is going to be with Telus or Bell.

Well if this is the case and I can't get out of my contract over this, I can guarntee that Rogers is going to loose more besiness because of me advising anybody who asks to avoid Rogers. I'll take any oprotunity that comes allong to make sure that I do my part by voting with any pocketbook that comes along.

gbd

 

[Andy2010]

I am going to write to the CEO tomorrow when i get in the office. They still don't understand why we wanted the firmware do bad. Simon start giving example that oh when you buy a dvd player, a few months later BestBuy came out with BlueRay. He said you can't go back to Bestbuy and said u want an upgrade or exchange. I told him we are purely talking about software. Bottom line is, i am very disappointed with Rogers staff for lack of knowledge. He kept thinking that i am pushing for the firmware is because i want to root the phone and that i am afraid of the warranty being voided and that i want them allow me to do so. Then he goes i know what you are thinking, hack the phone so that u can use different simcard. I am like.. what the hell.. i don't care about unlocking the phone. I even told him last year i went for holiday with Rogers lock phone. I was paying for roaming charges. This is exactly what i am saying. They are thinking for us. They purely don't know what we want.. *sigh*. I told him i am going to some other provider when my contract is over. He said feel free.. I can't stop you from doing that but he said i can tell you other provider will have the same problem. I was thinking.. yeah.. even if telus or bell do .. i'll give them a chance. I've already gave Rogers a chance but they failed to fulfill. Oh well .. I said it from the begining of my first complaint to them. "I may be your current customer now.. but i may not be your future customer".

Now to everyone who's going to sign a new contract with Rogers.. Read this.. This Simon says.. when we sell you the phone, we sell you the way it is. We never promise any firmware updates...pther than patches, they won't provide firmware upgrade!! READ THIS CAREFULLY!!!
He said even if we have hundreds of customer damanding this update, they still won't do it. He even said when they signed agreement with HTC, firmware update was not part of the deal.


If you guys want, feel free to write to the CEO of Rogers.

nadir.mohamed@rci.rogers.com

 

[porky1981]

Isn't Adobe Flash 10 expected to run on Andoid version 2.0 or newer?

Shouldn't we be asking for Android 2.0/2.1?

getting sick of not being able to view a lot of content on the web. All this time I thought flash would be available to all versions (1.5 and up), if it's only 2.0 as you say i'm going to be pissed. As for the post above this: if they really don't plan on upgrading the firmware, then I guess rooting is the only option. Maybe I can get rogers to waive fees for me to switch to an iphone if this is true.....that's the only phone that seems to be supported here.

 

[davidelewis]

Simon start giving example that oh when you buy a dvd player, a few months later BestBuy came out with BlueRay. He said you can't go back to Bestbuy and said u want an upgrade or exchange. I told him we are purely talking about software.

A few years ago I purchased a $50 DVD Philips DVD player. After I purchased it, Philips released two firmware upgrades. Both of the new firmware upgrades improved the existing functionality and added new features. I'm sure that Philips earned some loyal customers by doing this ...

Rogers resistance to providing any upgrades to their Android phones is simply about money. They don't perceive any cash flow with upgrading software for their phones. They want to sell new hardware, not support existing software. What they don't realize is that future revenue will be based on the bandwidth they sell. The more data they can transfer to/from a cell phone/pda/netbook, etc. - the more money they can make. Selling hardware at a reasonable price then supporting software upgrades will ensure that customer stay loyal - maintaining their revenue.

The "big three" (Rogers, Bell, Telus) don't understand this - yet. I'm hoping that one of the smaller (or new) cell phone companies do understand this. If so, they will be very successful.

 

[Andy2010]

I told him that if Rogers' not supporting firmware, please make sure is in the service agreement. Insert that line that Rogers does not provide firmware update so that people can know before they sign the damn agreement.

 

[Andy2010]

It's 10:30pm and I just blast an email to the CEO of Rogers
nadir.mohamed@rci.rogers.com and this is what i wrote

Hi Mr Nadir Mohamed,

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for letting know the status of the firmware update. What Simon told me does not make much sense to us although he is trying to tell us that we will not be getting the firmware update. It is a very disappointing news for us because we believe in android technology hoping we can do more with the phone down the road but because of Rogers feel what they think is best for their customer, that is a wrong way to go. I guess Rogers failed to understand the adoption of open source and android community as a whole.

Explained to us what is your commitment to us?

"You can count on us to provide the world most advanced and accessible communications solutions, and leading edge content across multiple platforms. Our goal is to bring you the latest technology and services that are designed for you, offer you choice and meet your expectations"

"We stand behind our product"

"We listen. And we empower our people to help you."

"We help you understand your purchase."


Unfortunately, none of these commitments are provided to us. Sadly to say but we felt we are being ditched on this matter. Simon told me that when we bought the phone, Rogers did not promise to provide firmware upgrade.

Before I write to you, i wrote to your staff in the office of the president and said that "We may be your customer now but we may not be your future customer".

Lastly, if you have time, I strongly ask you to take a look at our community forum and understand us better. You will be surprised what you see on there and how your staff responded to us. Please take a look at yourself rather than asking other people.

http://androidforums.com/rogers/10647-rogers-dream-1-6-update.html

Feel free if you guys want to write to him.

 

[GreatBigDog]

I wonder if we could get a lawyer to initate a class action suit on a pro-bono basis, I wouldn't even care if the lawyer ended up getting everything if we won. I would just like to hurt Rogers in the pocketbook.

gbd

 

[GreatBigDog]

Sent this to @RogersMary, 1st tweet at the bottom.

@RogersMary Than they will ever make off of my contract.

@RogersMary If Rogers insists on keeping me locked into contract. I will make sure that they loose many more potential customers

@RogersMary Will Rogers allow us to get out of our contracts without penalty, so we can find another carrier that will support us?

@RogersMary I specifically asked about future support when I purchased the phone. I was lied to by your representative.

@RogersMary If this is true then your company has sold me a phone that was obsolete. This was in bad faith on your part.

@RogersMary I've just heard that Nadir Mohamed the CEO of Rogers has said that there will be no 1.6 update for dream. Is this true?

 

[GreatBigDog]

Just sent this letter off to Rogers CEO

Dear Mr. Nadir Mohamed,

It is with great regret that I have heard that you have indicated that Rogers will not be providing support on an ongoing basis to your customers that have purchased your products. I'm specifically speaking about your decision not to provide any further firmware updates to the HTC Dream / Magic past Android version 1.5.

It is my understanding that you are unwilling to pursue the possibility of updating the phones due to a couple of reason. The first reason is that Rogers did not sign upgrade agreement with HTC with HTC and the other being that you believe that the reason that our community is looking for the upgrade is so that we can hack our phones.

While is is unfortunate that Rogers did not see the necessity for signing an upgrade agreement, it is nevertheless a fact of life that because of the open source nature of the Android operating system that upgrading the operating system is a necessity. Your company is selling these devices as being the latest and greatest but the fact is it's obsolete before it's even purchased. Your customers should not have to suffer due to the lack of understanding of the Android open source community.

You have indicated through your representative, Simon, that you are concerned that the real reason that we are looking to get Android 1.6 installed on our devices is that we are looking to hack the devices. Nothing could be further from the truth. The devices as they are now are easily hacked to install custom operating systems on it and to allow tethering of the devices, if you wish you can check out the site Full Update Guide - Rogers Dream EBI1 to CyanogenMod - CyanogenMod Wiki to see that there are complete instructions on hacking the Rogers Dream and installing a custom operating system. Those of us that are looking to get our phones updated by rogers are not looking to hack them, it's quite the opposite, we would like Rogers to provide the 1.6 update specifically so we don't have to hack them.

You can follow the discussion that we are having regarding the non support that we are getting on this matter by going to http://androidforums.com/rogers/10647-rogers-dream-1-6-update.html.

I hope that you can reconsider the position that your company has take on this issue.

Regards,
Don Rayner
Disgruntled Customer

 

[mjschmidt]

Here is a copy of what I wrote to Mr. Mohamed. I am also going to send this to the OotP and Ombudsperson through the Rogers web site.

We MUST get a confirmation of this before we continue.



Dear Mr. Mohamed,

I am writing to you today to try to clarify recent reports that, according to someone named "Simon" in your office, Rogers will _not_ be issuing an upgrade to HTC Dream and Magic phones to update them from version 1.5 to version 1.6 of the operating system. Can you please confirm if this is true?

I am a member of a growing online community of upset Rogers Android customers, I am familiar with the person who who corresponded with Simon initially, and I wonder if perhaps there was a misunderstanding? He reported to us that Simon claimed no agreement was made with HTC to upgrade the phone, and Simon apparently suggested we wanted this upgrade so that we could "hack" our phones. This last part is why I think there must have been a misunderstanding. The HTC Dream and Magic run on an operating system much like a PC runs on Windows. Microsoft upgrades Windows, and if you want to be able to run newer software, and get more benefits from your PC, you have to upgrade Windows. It is the same thing with the Android phones; version 1.6 of the Android operating system was released at the beginning of October, and US customers have had it on their phones since then. To be clear, having the 1.6 upgrade will _not_ allow us to "hack" the phone. In fact, the phone can be hacked right now, as is, and most people will have to resort to doing just that if that can't get the upgrade to 1.6. We are demanding the 1.6 upgrade precisely so we _won't_ have to hack our phones.

Android offers an exciting opportunity to Canadian wireless customers with its ease of use, utility through availability of applications from the market place, and as an alternative to the iPhone. However, for Android to be successful in Canada, Rogers will need to properly understand what it is, and how it works. Lack of proper support for this new platform will leave your customers disappointed, angry, and searching for a new wireless provider. Already there are new applications in the Market Place that _don't work_ on our phones because we are stuck on the older version of the Android operating system. If this continues, eventually there will be _no_ applications available to us on our phones, and you can bet we _won't_ buy our next phone from Rogers.

Simon also seems to have suggested to the original writer that the update would not be released for the HTC Dream because of incompatibility, however this update is _already_ running on the HTC Dream in the US and elsewhere around the world. I assure you that Rogers is way behind other wireless providers in understanding and implementing Android, and it makes Rogers look foolish.

Mr. Mohamed, I look forward to hearing from you very soon with a clarification and confirmation of Rogers commitment, or lack thereof, to our Android phones.

As a large and growing group we are becoming very upset, and very impatient, as we have been pursuing this matter through customer service, and the office of the president, with conflicting results. We have already begun reaching out to tech media, like CBC writer and radio personality Jesse Hirsh, as well as online tech and cell phone blogs. We have begun an online petition, and we are writing about this issue daily in very popular Android forums, in the Rogers forums, in the comments sections of online newspaper stories, and on Facebook and Twitter. We are prepared to warn existing and potential Rogers customers that if they buy a Rogers Android phone, they should be aware that Rogers may not support them with _necessary_ upgrades to the phone's operating system. We are not going to go away, unless it is to another wireless carrier to punish Rogers by with-holding our patronage. We are angry, and we are looking in to all options, including being released from our contracts with NO penalty.

Yours truly,

Michael J. Schmidt
Disgruntled Rogers Android Customer
(And a loyal Rogers customer for more than 15 years)

 

[boualem]

Here is a quick summary:


mjschmidt spoke to Sherry twice she said after speaking with the director of device management for Rogers Wireless, they would be getting it from HTC for testing & evaluation in late December, and that we _might_ get the update in the new year

Andy2010 spoke to Mary in the OotP and also asked about 1.6. Mary said they were testing it _now_ (and that was at least a week ago).

bunhead got my call back from Ethan (from the Office of the President) and he said "rogers would be receiving the 1.6 update in late December and if all things went well rogers would be releasing it to the public in early 2010".

Andy2010 got a called from Simon who answered behalf of Nadir Mohamed the CEO of Rogers. Andy2010 wrote to Nadir a few days ago regarding the firmware upgrade. Simon confirmed that there will be no update for 1.6 for HTC dream. Andy2010 asked about magic but Simon said he don't know but said there's a possibility that magic may not get it too. He also said that when Rogers signed an agreement with HTC, upgrade was not part of it. He also said that if there is an upgrade, it will still a 1.5 upgrade patch, not 1.6.

Analysis, analysis...

 

[boualem]

The competition is coming...


Clement allows Globalive into telecom market

Last Updated: Friday, December 11, 2009 | 10:01 AM EST

Financial Post

Story courtesy of



OTTAWA -- Industry Minister Tony Clement said Friday the federal government would overrule the federal telecom regulator and allow Globalive Wireless Management Corp. to offer cellphone service in Canada.
"It is a Canadian company that meets Canadian ownership and control requirements," Mr. Clement said in a press conference Friday morning.
The much-anticipated announcement comes six weeks after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission denied Globalive's bid to be the country

 

[GreatBigDog]

You know, I was about to add a second line to my account and get my wife a phone from Rogers before all this started. I've been quite busy so haven't got around to it, am I ever glad I put it off now.

 

[Andy2010]

I should have ask Simon to sent me an email to confirm it. When I told Simon that some ppl in our forum claimed that Rogers promised him that he will get his update before he bought the phone. He said how do you know that individual is lying? He said do you believe everything what on the internet said? Then i said well your Rogers' been telling us different stories, how do i know Rogers staff lied too?

 

[TinBasher77]

You know, I was about to add a second line to my account and get my wife a phone from Rogers before all this started. I've been quite busy so haven't got around to it, am I ever glad I put it off now.

I'm in the same boat, my wife's contract with Bell ends on the 29th of December. Now I'm considering having her go with one of the smaller guys like Koodo.

 

[mjschmidt]

Remember, the "smaller" guys like Koodo are just fronts for the big guys.

Koodo = Telus
Fido = Rogers
Virgin = Bell

 

[TinBasher77]

Remember, the "smaller" guys like Koodo are just fronts for the big guys.

Koodo = Telus
Fido = Rogers
Virgin = Bell

Well then they just have us screwed every which way to Sunday! Stupid monopoly!

 

[RatTub]

Well then they just have us screwed every which way to Sunday! Stupid monopoly!

Or you could wait for DAVE Wireless or Globalive (WIND) to launch..

 

[boualem]

Here is a quick summary:


mjschmidt spoke to Sherry twice she said after speaking with the director of device management for Rogers Wireless, they would be getting it from HTC for testing & evaluation in late December, and that we _might_ get the update in the new year

Andy2010 spoke to Mary in the OotP and also asked about 1.6. Mary said they were testing it _now_ (and that was at least a week ago).

bunhead got my call back from Ethan (from the Office of the President) and he said "rogers would be receiving the 1.6 update in late December and if all things went well rogers would be releasing it to the public in early 2010".

Andy2010 got a called from Simon who answered behalf of Nadir Mohamed the CEO of Rogers. Andy2010 wrote to Nadir a few days ago regarding the firmware upgrade. Simon confirmed that there will be no update for 1.6 for HTC dream. Andy2010 asked about magic but Simon said he don't know but said there's a possibility that magic may not get it too. He also said that when Rogers signed an agreement with HTC, upgrade was not part of it. He also said that if there is an upgrade, it will still a 1.5 upgrade patch, not 1.6.

Analysis, analysis...

3 out of 4 people from the OofP (Sherry, Mary, Ethan) are saying that 1.6 will be received/has been received and will be/is-being tested in December and if everything is fine will be released to the public in early 2010.

1 person from the OofP (Simon) is saying that no update (to 1.6) is planned for the HTC dream and possibly the HTC Magic.

mjschmidt, Andy201, bunheadand and Andy2010 should try to get in touch with their contacts from the OofP and ask for clarifications.

 

[Jag]

Hi everyone,

I've been a long time reader but now a first time poster.

A couple of months back my 3 year contract was set to expire with Rogers, and up until then I was satisfied with their service. I had the same old phone for 3 years (Sony Ericsson w810i) and thought it would be a good time for me to jump into the smartphone craze. There was the obvious choice, the iPhone 3GS but I decided to do my research and came upon the Android phones Rogers was offering. I was very intrigued by their open source OS and the sheer potential that it has. For that reason, as well as the difference in price between the iPhone and HTCs, I decided to go with an HTC Magic from Rogers and renewed my 3 year contract.

However, before I did that I spoke to the technical support staff at Rogers via phone and asked them if they were going to be updating the OS to 1.6. The guy told me they would be and I asked him if it would be OTA or as downloadable content and he said for sure as downloadable content. I asked why it wasn't OTA and he told me the file was simply too big. Anyways, I was satisfied by that answer because I had been assured that an update was coming so that put me over the edge and the next day I bought my HTC Magic.

So I waited...and waited...and waited and yet there was no update. So I did a quick Google search to see what was going on and I stumbled upon this thread and I have been reading it for a while now. I'm very impressed with the action you guys have been taking and the amount of pressure you guys are putting on Rogers.

However, I am less impressed with the latest news from Rogers, although I guess it's not official news. I'm hoping it was a misunderstanding on Simon's part and Rogers does release a 1.6 update. However, I'm not putting all of my eggs into that basket.

That's why I've been looking around at how to root my HTC Magic and upload a custom ROM. We're probably all going to be in the same boat if Rogers doesn't push the 1.6 update. For that reason I've come here to talk to you guys about rooting. I think, if we have to do it, we should all help each other through it and decide on the same custom ROM to use. That way if we run into any kinds of problems we can work them out with one another. I say that because going into a bigger and more unfamiliar community we might not get as much help.

How does that sound?


(P.S. I'm a university student and finals are upon me right now so I'm going to wait until after my exams finish to dive into the rooting process head first. Until then I'm going to be waiting, and hoping, that Rogers comes to their senses and makes it official that they will be releasing a 1.6 update. But I'm not counting on that)

 

[mjschmidt]

mjschmidt, Andy201, bunheadand and Andy2010 should try to get in touch with their contacts from the OofP and ask for clarifications.

As in my post above, I sent an email to the same address Andy2010 used for Nadir Mohamed asking for a clarification. Either this will get to Mr. Mohamed (oh yeah, right) or, more likely, it will be fielded by Simon, the person to whom Andy2010 spoke. Either way, hopefully we will get some sort of clarification.

 

[mjschmidt]

For that reason I've come here to talk to you guys about rooting. I think, if we have to do it, we should all help each other through it and decide on the same custom ROM to use. That way if we run into any kinds of problems we can work them out with one another. I say that because going into a bigger and more unfamiliar community we might not get as much help.

@Jag: welcome to the thread! Sorry you got sucked in to this like the rest of us.

As for rooting the phone, there are threads in this forum that will show you step-by-step how to root (even some that say it's very easy. Apparently there is a one-click app that will do it).

It would be preferable to keep this thread on topic of trying to get 1.6 out of Rogers, but feel free to create a new thread in the Rogers sub-forum dedicated to the cause of rooting Rogers phones.

P.S. Good luck on your exams!