Earlier this month, Verizon Wireless put the highly anticipated Android 2.1 update on hold for Motorola Droid, with no ETA given on when it was expected to be released.
Reports are beginning to surface around the web at what appears to be an internal Verizon email that was sent out this morning and it give the impression that the 2.1 update will begin happening on 3/30/2010. At roughly 12pm yesterday, roughly 1,000 users will receive notification of the update. An additional 9,000 more will get a similar notification before the end of day.
Assuming the initial release is successful, the 2.1 update will begin for the remaining users today. Below are some highlights from internal communications.
Starting 03/30/2010, Verizon Wireless is pleased to announce a new software update for the DROID by Motorola. Users will be able to upgrade their software to version AP: ESE81/BP: C_01.3E.03P to receive new improvements and enhancements.
*Key Advantages:*
- Email – Yahoo Mail is now supported – customers can simply sign in with their Yahoo! Email address and password. Note: Yahoo! Email is not available over Wi-Fi
- Pinch to Zoom now available in the Browser, Maps, and Gallery
- Speech-to-Text – Customers can now use their voice instead of typing whenever a text-entry box appears
- Google Goggles is now preloaded
- The new Gallery application uses 3D layout and shows both pictures taken with the customer’s Android device and images from Picasa Web Albums account online
*Software Schedule:*
Below is the software-upgrade notification schedule (All times listed are Eastern Time):
- At noon on 03/30, 1,000 users will receive notification of the update.
- At 11:59 PM on 03/30, 9,000 more users will receive the update notification.
- After the first 10,000 users receive the update on 03/30, there will be a 24-hour period when no additional upgrades will be delivered.
- On Day 3 (04/01), 200,000 users will receive the update notification at 11:59 PM. This schedule will continue each day thereafter until the update has been delivered to all users.
*Download & Install Conditions:*
- An OTA download requires 40% or more power availability if the device is not connected to an external power source or20% or more power if it is connected to an external source
- If roaming, the customer will not receive the update. The only option in this scenario is for the subscriber to enable Wi-Fi and wait for a mandatory OTA. The wait period in this case will not be more than 12 hours
- User must wait to receive the upgrade via OTA
- User is unable to make or receive calls, including emergency calls during this time
- Users will see the following information when they select *More info* on the update screen:/ This software update includes new enhancements to support Yahoo! Email, pinch-to-zoom, and many other improvements for your DROID by Motorola. You will be unable to use your device or make emergency calls for the duration of the install. The software updates automatically, and your DROID will power off and on as part of this software upgrade.
