LGE To Announce ICS Phone Upgrade List In December

[JerryScript]

While they have already confirmed that the top of the Optimus line of phones will receive ICS, they have not mentioned if any of the thunderc based line of Optimus phones will. They have given a tentative date for releasing a list of phones that will be updated, look for more info in December.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/lg-mobile/announcing-the-initial-plan-for-android-40-ice-cream-sandwich-upgrade/316431148368212

 

[cole2kb]

Appreciate the heads up, but isn't this pretty much moot since Virgin said they can't update our phone at all? Or am I mistaken on that?

 

[Whyzor]

yeah not gonna happen for the OV If we're lucky, I mean extremely lucky, ICS will come with the Optimus Black for VM.

 

[bigsupersquid]

Appreciate the heads up, but isn't this pretty much moot since Virgin said they can't update our phone at all? Or am I mistaken on that?

with virgin updates, can't actually means won't.
the SOB's at Virgin even told LG to cripple the firmware releases for Virgin phones so users couldn't reflash them without sending em off for service!
they did it to the Rumor Touch firmware and the OV firmware, even though the sprint versions of both phones have working firmware from LG.
VM just wants to sell new devices, they're not interested in updating older ones. They won't even update a PRL, I had two older VM handsets which the PRL got outdated on so they connected to non-VM towers and wouldn't dial out or recieve calls without requesting a credit card, and VM said they'd only replace the phones rather than push a PRL to them!
Customer DIS-service, they have, outsourced to India.

 

[cole2kb]

Wow. I was not aware of all that. I guess that's the tradeoff of such cheap service.

 

[JerryScript]

But, we will have the other phone's updates to work from. I realize the last gingerbread release for the S was not much help so far, but ICS is a whole new recipe.

 

[bigsupersquid]

yes, cheap indeed. that's why I've stuck longer with VM than any other service provider I've tried.

no-one has top-notch tech support of the level I want, just basic customer service reps who don't want to send the call up to someone who actually has a chance of answering my questions or fixing my problems with devices, and I haven't gotten better phone service from any other provider either.

so, in spite of VM's issues, they still fit me better than the larger companies, since most features are comparable, and the price cannot be compared at all for what's included.
I can usually manage my own tech support eventually, unless it's a network issue that has to be fixed from the other end; so far all of the provider-end issues I've had with VM have resulted in replacement phones after a few weeks of arguing with Indian customer service reps to get a call from US tech support reps who argue about what the problem is for a week or two and then say they can't fix it and want to send me a replacement device.
Sure, they'll release ICS, on their flagship devices maybe, but I can't imagine they'd ever provide any kind of software update for phones already being sold.

 

[watskyhotsky]

if VMusa is smart, they will bring the ICS on the Optimus Black.

the Optimus V was such a great phone, really brought attention to virgin mobile, they need to keep the brand alive and make the next "optimus" phone the flagship. with the latest android, good support, no bugs.

they need it.

 

[bswann]

According to VM Canada they are taking orders for the GN and its shipping on Dec 7. I wish they would just cross the border and do that here.

Sent from within my pocket.

 

[Whyzor]

According to VM Canada they are taking orders for the GN and its shipping on Dec 7. I wish they would just cross the border and do that here.

Sent from within my pocket.

VM Canada & VM USA are completely different companies. For one, the rest of the world uses the GSM standard, which helps new phones reach market faster, instead of the fragmented CDMA vs GSM on multiple frequencies here. If it weren't for the $25/mo plan, I'd probably be using a GSM phone on T-Mobile or Simple Mobile. VM-USA has some good competition these days.

 

[LeslieAnn]

Sure, they'll release ICS, on their flagship devices maybe, but I can't imagine they'd ever provide any kind of software update for phones already being sold.

They have released updates in the past, but very few and very limited.

The first was the Blackberry, it needed a patch the day it was released. This was actually Blackberry's doing, not VM though. The second was the Intercept, and I suspect Samsung was just trying to make themselves look a bit better considering how poor that phone was, but also the os it shipped with was quite bad compared to Froyo. Froyo, isn't bad and there isn't a big gain by using GB over it like there was from what preceded Froyo, so in that respect I can see why they did it, especially considering how long the Intercept has managed to stick around. Makes me wonder just how many of them are out there and how many are still selling.

As you said though, the OV is crippled, be it on purpose or not, it is crippled. Luckily we can root it, making it a wonderful device for the money. It is possible LG could make an update for us that works, but why should they? The OV works well and sells well as it is. For the money, the OV and it's brethren are still tough to beat. By the time ICS becomes the norm, the OV will be quite dated and probably discontinued (maybe), them and VM would rather sell you a new phone by then. Regardless, I doubt we will see ICS for the OV in either new phones or a patch.

 

[asadullah]

I'm wondering if they are updating the phones or if they are sending out refurbished ones If I didn't like my unlocked bootloader I think I would go for it.
I think that eventually we'll get ics or gingerbread or more likely they'll discontinue the phone like the lg optimus m (bet you can't find that on the metro website)

 

[LeslieAnn]

I'm wondering if they are updating the phones or if they are sending out refurbished ones If I didn't like my unlocked bootloader I think I would go for it.
I think that eventually we'll get ics or gingerbread or more likely they'll discontinue the phone like the lg optimus m (bet you can't find that on the metro website)

Found it.
MetroPCS | Zip Code Lookup
(may have to put in a usable zip code to see it, I used Dallas 75360)

A quick look around online shows they stopped selling it around July and calls to metro say it's been discontinued. Apparently they ran out of refurbs last month.

 

[watskyhotsky]

the optimus M was just all bad... when I recommended the OV, some friends bought the OM and hated it, they thought the plan was better but the service sucked and the internet was either dial up speed or non existant around these parts.

Metro has bad service here, but I havent tried one of their 4G phones yet.

the OV is so dated, hardware wise. its good solid hardware, but I seriously doubt its capable of running ICS in the way google intended (extranous features aside)

I agree with leslieann, 2.1 to 2.2 was big. 2.2 to 2.3 was incremental, not as big, but still worth upgrading if a rom was available, upgrade is an upgrade, more features for free, whos gunna argue.

I wish VMusa had some of VMcanadas stuff. if youve ever been to virgin mobile canada, they have some GREAT ideas.

selling iphones, high end android phones too. and the Supertab!! how great is that! slowly pay off the full cost of the phone over the time you own it, instead of up front, while still on prepaid. genius!

people would figure out how to game the system too often here, but still, its a good idea.

I dont think VMusa is aware that software is 60% of a device. crappy hardware can run well with good software, good hardware can do amazing things with good software. I dont know why they do it, but every phone should at LEAST ship with the newest version of android available at the time of manufacture, even if they dont upgrade it.

shipping a 2.1 phone when 2.3.4 is out is just sad.

cant do anything about devices out right now, but heres hoping ICS and googles new requirements for it brings creates at least SOME kind of software "standard" among android phones.

 

[jdcnosse]

Am I correct to assume the only thing stopping us from being able to us VMCanada's phones is that the frequencies are different? I mean if they're GSM phones they can be unlocked...but if the frequencies aren't correct then I can see that as a problem lol

 

[JerryScript]

Am I correct to assume the only thing stopping us from being able to us VMCanada's phones is that the frequencies are different? I mean if they're GSM phones they can be unlocked...but if the frequencies aren't correct then I can see that as a problem lol

Completely different hardware from cdma to gsm.