Verizon’s HTC Touch Pro gets firmware update, GPS unlock and Visual Voicemail included
PhoneNews is reporting that Verizon Wireless has approved a firmware update for the xv6850 Touch Pro. As promised by Verizon Wireless late last year, this firmware update will unlock the GPS on the handset, allowing owners to use Google Maps or Windows Live Search instead of the proprietary and costly VZ Navigator. The firmware update also adds Visual Voicemail support to the phone, a feature that requires a $3 monthly fee and EVRC-B codec support which improves call handling. The update is not available through Verizon Wireless or HTC yet but it is being offered early by Phone News. For those Touch Pro owners who have not already hacked their phone to unlock the GPS, hit the read link to obtain the firmware update — at your own risk of course. Samsung Saga and Samsung Omnia owners – hang in there and hopefully a similar update for your crippled handset is right around the corner, too.
i did this update gps works with g maps but it has messed up vz nav, was on phone with vz for 2 hrs and could not get vz nav to work…visual vm is nice though !
That’s suprising, hope they can straighten it out. We know you’re paying for it because the Premium plans aren’t compatible with vzw’s restrictive smartphones. Maybe when they get the Pre and gut it they’ll change thier mind
Do you think VZW will email current owners or is it just something to keep an eye on these posts and similar website when it is avaible??
Can’t imagine why anyone would use VZ Nav. I tried it. In Florida and West Virginia it either didn’t find a business or had the address wrong a full 50% of the time. The program was almost unusable. I used turn-by-turn a few times, but would look up the address in Google Maps or Live first as that was the only way to get an accurate address. If this proves to be more than a hoax, I’m looking forward to it. But, I’ve found two different downloads claiming to be the real 1.08 update. Who knows which, if either, is the real thing.
I m starting to really wonder why people that actually KNOW Verizon cripples their phones and releases the same phones as other carriers late, continue to stay?
Q, that’s easy to answer. The network. The minute my friends in Colorado tell me that Sprint or AT&T has decent coverage out there, I’m so leaving Verizon (well, when my indenturement is up anyway).
When it comes down to it, that’s why Sprint and AT&T have the best phones, that’s the only way they can compete with Verizon’s network and why Verizon is lazy about picking up good phones. They don’t have to.
I guess so jj. I live in the DC area and have never had a problem with Sprint or other places I travel. I just always found Verizon to be overpriced (on both the phones and the plans) and have a bad phone selection (on top of that crippled). For those that are in areas that get good reception on other carriers and stay, i just dont get it. Just my opinion though
The Saga firmware update has been released:
http://www.samsung.com/us/i770/softwareupdate
BoogerEater,
Do you realize that $10/month over a 2-year contract is $240, more than 2/3 the cost of the phone itself?
Call me crazy, but that seems pretty excessive to me.