I have not heard any info lately about this and I guess Sprint already has theirs out for the Mogul? Any release date or time table fot the 6.1 upgrade for the xv6800?
Nothing official. And my personal belief is that Verizon will never release anything. But that's just me.
Something "official" was posted last month about a June release, but that came and went just like all those "official" memos said the 6800 was coming for like 3 years straight.
And you can't just buy Windows Mobile 6.1 from Microsoft
I asked about this when I bought my XV6800 two weeks ago. The tech support woman shrugged and told me there are no near-term plans that she's aware of, adding that it's a good thing because "6.1 is buggy."
Can I download the new version now?
When Microsoft releases new versions of Windows Mobile software, we release it directly to the mobile operators so they can ensure it works correctly on their phones. For that reason, you cannot download it directly from Microsoft. Check out your mobile operator’s Web site for dates and details on when they will release the 6.1 update.
I was going to try one of the ROM hacks to get WM 6.1 and GPS. But recently I've developed cold feet. I believe that I can make my 6.0 device work as smoothly as 6.1, or more so, using freeware, shareware, and commercial software. As for GPS, I'll just pay Verizon $3 a day for the dozen or so times a year that I anticipate needing it.
Do any of you have an idea as to what makes the verizon software diffrent from the sprint software that allows the update available just to the Mogul? I guess the better question is what makes the gps work for sprint and not for verizon?
I've been bugging the idiots at Slorizon constantly about this and keep getting the standard "we don't know as it may raise expectations" bs that the "trained" cs representatives give out all the time. It must be nice to get paid to give out that response when they don't know the answer. Can you imagine the weather people saying that on tv?
I'm guessing that Slorizon Nazi's won't release one until they have figured out a way to block some of the software features of 6.1 or at least a way to charge customers extra. I think what makes the Mogul software different is that they have REV A and GPS capabilities functionality now.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with the Alltel PPC 6800 in January since they have an update out already and are supposed to be coming on-board to Verizon's network then.
There is *NOTHING* different about Verizon's device, the issue is Verizon is too slow and cautious. And, as pointed out, they hate the idea you can use Google maps and GPS on the phone instead of paying them $10/month for the capability.
I'd like to hop in quickly to agree with justa and BK. Verizon seems to be following a business model that is quickly loosing consumer base. In order to gain customers they are "buying" them by purchasing other phone companies. I think it is a matter of time before they are going to either change how they conduct business (ie, phone releases, software updates, etc), or they are going to fall back to #2 rapidly. Folks I know are leaving in droves for AT&T's phone lineup, unfortunately both my wife and my families are not in that group or I would have left already.
The joke when NAFTA passed was the sucking noise was jobs heading to Mexico and Canada. Hopefully the execs at Verizon will realize the sucking noise they are hearing is their customers leaving for other companies that are quicker to release products.
I have been looking at re-flashing my XV6800 with a Sprint ROM, but like Paul mentioned, requires some big ones... There are other sites that have the required software to do this, but they are mainly aimed at Sprint users. With things pretty ambiguous about Verizon users, I am hesitant to trash my phone without knowing exactly step-by-step what I need to have and do.
Anyway, that's my rant. Does nothing in the grand scheme of things as Verizon seems to be completely blind and deaf to their consumers.
The xv6800 is a rev a capable phone. The 6.1 for the i760 came with a radio updated for better reception. Hopefully when 6.1 is released for the xv6800 it will come with a nice little rev-a surprise?????? If that happens i am getting a 6800.
Truth be told....if it wasn't for Verizon's network and the good customer service that I've received when I had problems with service or the phones then I would have dumped Verizon a long time ago. I'm really tempted to write in to Consumer Reports and see if they will add a category on thier next cell phone service survey asking consumers about choice of phone selection and software updates- it'll be interesting to see Slorizon get trashed in that category.
I'll stick with Verizon if they release an update to 6.1 before my contract ends next year as the VX-6800 is perfect for me (just hate the fact that it doesn't have REV-A or that Microsoft's Voice Command 1.6 doesn't work properly). If there is no release then I'm terminating my business with Verizon after 8 years and going to another carrier who will actually support the phone.
As Squid said - I'd update my phone with a custom ROM but I'm certain that something would get screwed up in the process.
If Verizon Wireless is anything like Verizon DSL, they'll be qut about the process by which existing customers can upgrade their speed. Twice, Verizon DSL doubled its down and up speed: First, from 768/128kbps to 1.5Mbps/384kbps; later, to 3Mbps/768kbps. Each time, existing customers had to call Verizon to explicitly request it. But nowhere in their announcements did Verizon make this clear.
Of course, members of forums like this one will know soon enough where and how to install the new ROM. But the vast majority of XV6800 users won't...like my fellow bus rider who uses an XV6800 but has never added a single third-party feature or joined the unlimited data plan.
Just bought the xv6800. Wondering if any of you have heard the release date of wm 6.1?? I heard 8-15 but that came and gone. Looks like a great phone only had it a day. Great upgrade though from the Treo!!!
Received my xv6800 this week after my 3 year old I730 touchscreen died - bit the bullet and flashed custom ROMs after 1 day of use (have flashed a couple times this week). Went pretty smoothly following the overview guides available at links below - Not my work - credit to those who created these - Very happy with the phone's performance and don't regret switching from the I730...
If you are tired of waiting for Verizon for 6.1 this is pretty painless...
One of the other things 6.1 does is fix the stupid issue of Microsoft Voice Command 1.6 not playing back confirmations before dialing. For some reason 6.0 doesn't support this but 6.1 does.
I'm waiting till the 31st of August to see if there is an update out, if not then I'm going to custom flash a ROM and be done with waiting on Slorizon to get thier act together.
One of the other things 6.1 does is fix the stupid issue of Microsoft Voice Command 1.6 not playing back confirmations before dialing. For some reason 6.0 doesn't support this but 6.1 does.
Oh God, are you kidding me? That confirmation echo is VITAL! I haven't used Voice Command 1.6, but I have used VC 1.5 on a xv6700 and I can tell you that damn voice dialer is accurate on average only 60% of the time. Without that echo back, the damn thing would be calling God knows who - probably people I don't want to talk to.
Jesus, I am going to go on an off topic tangent here (forgive me), but I am SOOOO close to dumping this crap and getting an iPhone. After the completely incompetent people at Assurion, the generally clueness Verizon trouble shooters, and my general frustration with Windows Mobile and the mediocre software... I'm on the verge of dumping it.
Somehow I am concerned that the AT&T iPhone situation won't be better, just different. No cut & paste? No voice dailing at all? WTF? Yet somehow 90% of the iPhone users are completely happy with the thing.
I'm supposed to get an xv6800 as a replacement for my 6700 tomorrow. Hopefully the shipping guys at Assurion stopped smoking pot long enough to put the correct phone in the box with my address on it. I swear you could train a chimpanzee to do that job, and somehow the Assurion shippers screwed it up twice already.
PLEASE keep me posted on how the ROM flash goes. I can't imagine Voice Command without the confirmation echo.
Well, the update is out, but I don't know what the hell happened when I installed it. I think it bricked my phone, but fortunately I had already ordered a warranty replacement yesterday (bright spots on screen) that should be here in the next 2.5 hours.
When I was installing the ROM on my current XV6800, I received an "invalid command" error, and the only option I had was to exit. Anyway, I tried to hard reset, but it obviously goes back to the ROM screen, and when I try to run the update utility, it just freezes up. No idea what the hell is going on, but I'll give it a shot on my replacement device when it shows up.
Good luck to anyone who wants to give the update a shot though:
According to the docs, the update covers the following:
•Upgraded OS to Windows Mobile 6.1
•Added EVDO Rev A capability
•Updated the MMS client to be compatible with WM 6.1
•Added Microsoft Remote Desktop Application
•Added capability to use VzNavigator application.
•Resolved compatibility issues with Microsoft Voice Command 1.6.
•Added capability to read micro SD card of up to 16GB memory.
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