We Want ICS!

[Android1993]

I understand we have dedicated Devs, but let's face it, like CM7 we're likely to see a few broken features and issues with CM9 ICS, not that stock rom doesn't have it's own issues, but for the most part everything works.

I say we ALL, as a community email/message Virgin Mobile and Motorola the same exact message regarding getting ICS on our devices, we don't ask, we demand. We need dedicated users to make it an obligation to email the message every single day, individually. We need to get it through their heads that we want an update! I'm pretty sure if thousands or hundreds of users email/message them the same exact email/message they'll realize the update is crucial to keep people buying their phones and using their services.

Use the following email/message in it's entirety, Title starts as "Android 4.0 Ice....", message body text starts with "Dear, VMUSA &....". Please be sure to copy and paste the exact same email/message from Title, to the Body text I provided. Contact them once a day using the following contact methods, use as many as you want, the more the better.

VMUSA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VirginMobileUSA
VMUSA Twitter: http://twitter.com/virginmobileus
VMUSA YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/virginmobileusa
VMUSA Contact Page: https://www1.virginmobileusa.com/about/prepareEmailUs.do

Motorola Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/motorola
Motorola Twitter: http://twitter.com/motorola
Motorola Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/motorola?feature=watch
Motorola Contact Page: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/chat/chat_launch


Email/Message:

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich UPDATE

Dear, VMUSA & Motorola USA

We, the Motorola Triumph community, would like to kindly demand that either of you work on a Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Motorola Triumph. The users have spoken up plenty of times regarding issues with our devices, yet we get little support. When an issue with software arises, sending out replacement devices doesn't work, this means it's time for a software upgrade. The Motorola Triumph is a great device, but has inexcusable issues, that includes poor reception, freezes & glitches, and no out of box capability with Applications like Skype, including no capability of using applications that would run smoothly on our devices if it weren't for the fact they require Android 2.3 Gingerbread and up in order to operate. Again, from the Motorola Triumph community, we demand an update, an update is crucial to keeping people on your service (VMUSA), and keeping users from buying other companies hardware (Motorola USA). We thank you for taking your time to read this email, we hope that you can meet our kind demands.

Sincerely, The Motorola Triumph Community

 

[sharpe351]

Alltogether, this is unnerving. This phone should have come with, at least, Gingerbread as the factory installed OS. It is rediculous that neither VM, nor Motorola would think that with the highly problematic Froyo that came with the phone originally, that they shouldn't need to do an update. Really?! Other phones have updates, even the cheap ones (maybe not to ICS, but Gingerbread for sure). I happen to like this phone, alot, and seeing the devs step up and build ROMs that far exceeded my expectations is phenominal.

Now to the nitty-gritty. ICS is the next biggest thing to come down the pipe for ALL phones/devices. It would be a real coup to see Motorolla or VM step-up and get it to run on such a capable device such as the Triumph. We've proven that (to say the least) the phone will support the ICS ROM. A kernal upgrade would need to be in the order of buisness in that case (for finalizing), but our phones are more than capable of using it. Now, that being said, I personally would not, root, flash, or Overclock if we got ICS as an OS for our phones. On the phones that I actually have used it on, I don't really see a need for it. The performance is smooth and the I/O functions are quick and efficient. Mind you there are people that will do such things, for other reasons, like using CM9 - which, I would gladly use, because it works great. Anyhow, If there is a portion of this rant that anyone would like to use in the form letter for VM/Motorola, fell free to do so.

-Mike

*edit* I submitted a question on VM's website regarding this very concern. Let's see if they approve it and let it post up to their site.

 

[stef7]

*edit* I submitted a question on VM's website regarding this very concern. Let's see if they approve it and let it post up to their site.

Not to the Question and Answers there. That's all end-user support. You have to email VMUSA Customer Care or SPRINT to get something definitive.

 

[sharpe351]

Not to the Question and Answers there. That's all end-user support. You have to email VMUSA Customer Care or SPRINT to get something definitive.

No, I do realize that, I just posted it on their Q&A on their website. I posted it there to see if customers would respond to it and hopefully for VM to see that there is demand out there for this phone to be improved.

 

[zachavm]

I was thinking google made some type of comment about an upgrade/update support timeline for android phones so I did some google searching. Turns out it was only encouraging it, and not requireing it ('it' being an 18 month update commitment). Sprint is on the list in this article, but Virgin Mobile is not (I think it's owned by Sprint). Consequently, I conclude that there is no commitment to update/upgrade virgin mobile hardware.

Google encouraging 18 month update pledge for Android phones - that's encouraging, not requiring

 

[sharpe351]

I was thinking google made some type of comment about an upgrade/update support timeline for android phones so I did some google searching. Turns out it was only encouraging it, and not requireing it ('it' being an 18 month update commitment). Sprint is on the list in this article, but Virgin Mobile is not (I think it's owned by Sprint). Consequently, I conclude that there is no commitment to update/upgrade virgin mobile hardware.

Google encouraging 18 month update pledge for Android phones - that's encouraging, not requiring

I think Virgin Mobile is in contract with Sprint to use their network. They should at least attempt to upgrade their phones. Froyo is ancient history compared to what's out there now.... even Gingerbread would be a vast improvement, but ICS would be the icing on the cake. I would be cool with google enforcing some kind of "come to Jesus" as far as a mandatory upgrade to higher-end/functional ROMs for devices.

 

[shmackshmack]

you have to bombard their twitter like im doing.

thats where they try to keep up with the customers, they are always replying to tweets and even doing their customer support there.

 

[marc12868]

I think Virgin Mobile is in contract with Sprint to use their network. They should at least attempt to upgrade their phones. Froyo is ancient history compared to what's out there now.... even Gingerbread would be a vast improvement, but ICS would be the icing on the cake. I would be cool with google enforcing some kind of "come to Jesus" as far as a mandatory upgrade to higher-end/functional ROMs for devices.

Nope Virgin Mobile doesn't have a contract with Sprint they are Sprint, well technically... They used to be their own company, but they were bought by Sprint for some hundreds of millions of dollars. Although that being said I don't know if they have to follow the same rules as Sprint. It would be cool to get ICS, emails might actually be better, my tweet basically saying that they were gonna lose customers if they didn't upgrade they said thanks for you feedback. Personally if they don't start doing something soon I am going to switch to another company, that has better speeds too...

Anyways what would be the best way that the tech department at VM would see our demands? And Motorola?

 

[pillbug]

I'm going to go out and buy a Chevy Camaro and demand that GM upgrade it to a Corvette.

Honestly, people. Don't buy a phone based on wishes. I've upgraded my phone to CM7. (thanks, Tickerguy, it's wonderful) If the dedicated and far smarter than me devs on this site manage to get ICS up and running, I'm there. But it will be icing on an already pretty sweet cake. We're not in a position to demand anything.

 

[sharpe351]

Nope Virgin Mobile doesn't have a contract with Sprint they are Sprint, well technically... They used to be their own company, but they were bought by Sprint for some hundreds of millions of dollars. Although that being said I don't know if they have to follow the same rules as Sprint. It would be cool to get ICS, emails might actually be better, my tweet basically saying that they were gonna lose customers if they didn't upgrade they said thanks for you feedback. Personally if they don't start doing something soon I am going to switch to another company, that has better speeds too...

Anyways what would be the best way that the tech department at VM would see our demands? And Motorola?

It's not a matter of "demand" really, it would greatly increase their buisness, regardless of who actually owns the company. Let them see a potential financial gain in their product and research it a bit. Hopefully it'd prove to them that this would be a great improvement, financially, and for the end user to get a "better" out-of-the-box product.

 

[marc12868]

I'm going to go out and buy a Chevy Camaro and demand that GM upgrade it to a Corvette.

Honestly, people. Don't buy a phone based on wishes. I've upgraded my phone to CM7. (thanks, Tickerguy, it's wonderful) If the dedicated and far smarter than me devs on this site manage to get ICS up and running, I'm there. But it will be icing on an already pretty sweet cake. We're not in a position to demand anything.

Actually we, the consumer, have all the right to demand anything we want. With something that wouldn't take all that much effort from the company like a software update, we can demand it all we want. We are the ones who provide the money that lets VM stay a business and survive and if they get threatened enough I'm sure they'll do something. I personally don't care, because I know VM... It would be nice to actually get an official update, but we will eventually have an unofficial port anyways so in the long run it doesn't really matter, but VM thinks we all are still on 2.2 (probably not but still), so to get a software update, is not that big of a demand really every company does it (pretty much)...

 

[Android1993]

I see no one took the time to try and write an email for us to use so I'll be adding it to the OP while including VM and Motorolas FB, TWITTER, and EMAIL.

 

[pillbug]

Actually we, the consumer, have all the right to demand anything we want...

Um, sure you do. But the demand has to be backed up by buying something else, otherwise there's no reason VM would bother. We're all cheapskates here, that's why we're on VM. They know that, and only offer just enough to lure in more cheapskates. If you really want a ICS phone, I'm guessing ATT or Verizon would be willing to help out (for a fee).

Still, if you get VM to upgrade the phone, more power to ya.

 

[b_randon14]

Its not gonna happen guys. No gb or ics, what will happen is they will release a newer phone probably just with gb and then once ics is on almost every phone they will release a ics phone.

We will always be behind an os at virgin mobile its just the way it is.

But you know up until recently they were phones being release on all major companies with froyo when gb was already out and running good. It's not just us, alot of manufacturer choose to go with outdated software!

 

[marc12868]

Um, sure you do. But the demand has to be backed up by buying something else, otherwise there's no reason VM would bother. We're all cheapskates here, that's why we're on VM. They know that, and only offer just enough to lure in more cheapskates. If you really want a ICS phone, I'm guessing ATT or Verizon would be willing to help out (for a fee).

Still, if you get VM to upgrade the phone, more power to ya.

... True, I'm not expecting anything from VM, but as a consumer I am saying we have that right. Whether or not anything will actually be done is a totally different story...

 

[Whyzor]

A more convincing argument would be to prevent people from switching to another carrier because of the lack of high-end phones on VM. It's in their FINANCIAL INTEREST to upgrade this phone's software, which I'm guessing would be cheaper than bringing in a NEW product, with support, & new business contract requirements. It's cheaper to hire a few full-time engineers to work out the bugs, and release an update, than to get new business partners for a new phone, marketing costs, distribution logistics...etc.

 

[CornfedChris]

What I want to know is why Cyanogenmod doesn't even support our phone with an official build knowing our phone has many variants similar to it and that we have been succesfull getting their product to work.

Maybe we're setting the bar to high in trying to contact Sprint/VM. Let's start with CyanogenMod Forum

 

[Android1993]

To everyone not participating. I understand some of you feel even with this attempt we'll make little to no progress. I feel it's that attitude that will prevent VM or Motorola from providing us with an update. If we all just take a few minutes of our time to contact them we'll for sure get a final YES or NO regarding this, at least. So just help the rest of us itching for an update, you aren't losing much time.

 

[marc12868]

I'll help, but I'm just not going to get my hopes up... I know the way VM works.

 

[Whyzor]

What I want to know is why Cyanogenmod doesn't even support our phone with an official build knowing our phone has many variants similar to it and that we have been succesfull getting their product to work.

Maybe we're setting the bar to high in trying to contact Sprint/VM. Let's start with CyanogenMod Forum

The only benefit of OFFICIAL cyanogenmod support would be automatic nightly builds, and if they checkin any code, it's automatically tested on our device to ensure it doesn't break the builds. It still requires an actual dev to support and make improvements. It's not like we automatically get someone to work on it if it gets CM support.

 

[ziggy46]

The only benefit of OFFICIAL cyanogenmod support would be automatic nightly builds, and if they checkin any code, it's automatically tested on our device to ensure it doesn't break the builds. It still requires an actual dev to support and make improvements. It's not like we automatically get someone to work on it if it gets CM support.

would you do that if you had our help?

 

[marc12868]

Ok I emailed VM and Motorola so we'll see where this takes us...

 

[alaskn81]

I'm going to go out and buy a Chevy Camaro and demand that GM upgrade it to a Corvette.

Honestly, people. Don't buy a phone based on wishes. I've upgraded my phone to CM7. (thanks, Tickerguy, it's wonderful) If the dedicated and far smarter than me devs on this site manage to get ICS up and running, I'm there. But it will be icing on an already pretty sweet cake. We're not in a position to demand anything.

except no one here is asking for a newer phone model from VM. People are expressing themselves as customers and what they want to see.

 

[Whyzor]

would you do that if you had our help?

I don't see any benefits to official CM7 support now, since it's not getting much updates anyway. CM9 is different, maybe that's something for the major contributors to discuss. Since Mantera just setup the repos for CM9, he's in a better position to have it meet CM's requirements for how the source is layed out.

 

[shmackshmack]

i got an interesting twitter reply from VM. its unique enough to take notice.

@ me https://twitter.com/#!/OhHaiDIYguyWe understand your concern, the software is determined by the manufacturer. We will forward your feedback to them. ^AR


i dont know what ^AR means. i hope its not "Automatic Reply" hahaha