AT&T How about releasing the Blackberry update 7.1

[beartraprr]

Why is ATT the only major carrier that has not released the Blackberry 7.1 update.  Blackberry released it on the 9th of January but ATT has to send it.  COME ON GUYS...Verizion and Sprint have sent it out, whats the big deal.

Getting real upset with your policies on issues like this.

[hotrodnc]

Come on AT&T! If it takes y'all this long to add your bloatware to the OS, maybe you should think about cutting out some of the software in the OS.

Sincerely,
The BlackBerry Community

[snhrph]

Since the OS7.1 is out there you can install it if you really want it. Stop complaining to att and become more self-reliant.

[leosowner]

Because some of us are on Mac OS X. And while I could set up Parallels to boot into Windows, why is it extraordinary to expect AT&T to provide 7.1 when the manufacturer has already released it? Does that seem unreasonable?

[jjvj]

I think more complaints to AT&T is needed!  They are suppose to be providing excellent service all the time, at least that's what their pitch is and yet every other carrier is able to release updates months ahead of them.  I shouldn't have to be "self-reliant" and download a leaked version and risk having issues just because they can't get their act together.  

They can't even give an ETA when they plan to release it.... for all I know RIM sent them the update to send out to their customers almost an entire month ago and it's sitting in someone's inbox right now and I guess they'll get to it when they get to it. 

[JORENO]

ATT does need to release 7.1. But some are having problems with 7.1

[leosowner]

Joreno, do you know for a fact the AT&T is actually working on getting it out? And working with RIM?

[Rdechiara]

I had 7.1 and downgraded back to 7.0 because if you upgrade to 7.1 with an AT&T BB, you lose the capability to manually switch between 4G/3G and 2G. That was a deal breaker as I work in an area where it's hard for 3G or better towers to connect but EDGE/2G has no problem connecting. Because of that, I had to downgrade. Interesting fact, all the other carriers EXCEPT AT&T allow the manual network mode switching with 7.1 Upgrade. Mystified why AT&T told BB to disable it with us. So not fair!!!!

[JORENO]

I will not install the new OS, until it becomes official from AT&T. I have heard of too many problems.

[leosowner]

Rdechiara,

Thanks for the alert.

This is absurd.

--The Wall Street Journal reports that part of the problem with some of the modern phones is that 4G is just too power hungry.

--the 9900 does not have the battery power that was promised in the specs and for most people the phone can't last a day.

--one of the ways that we can make the phone last for a day is to conserve power by using 2G.

--now that option is removed.

hopefully 7.1 is somewhat of an improvement (though most reports say that the improvement is marginal) but now we don't have a fighting chance. one more nail in the coffin.

[CheatedBB]

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hotrodnc wrote:
Come on AT&T! If it takes y'all this long to add your bloatware to the OS, maybe you should think about cutting out some of the software in the OS.

Sincerely,
The BlackBerry Community

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Fun Fact- the bloatware is already on the phone and included in the 7.1 OS!

[JORENO]

I'm ready!

[lylone]

I am ready to..  Come on ATT..  release it!

[leosowner]

Am I late to the party? Has AT&T released this? Or not?

I am on a Mac so I'm at disadvantage to update with downloaded software--instead I rely on the Desktop software to update me.

Someone tell me!

[hotrodnc]

As far as I know AT&T hasn't released the 7.1 update yet. I finally broke down and installed the 7.1.258 firmware for the blackberry torch 9810. I do not have any issues, and the battery life, reliability, and speed of the entire OS has dramatically increased. Remind you this is not an official update, it is a beta release, so if the beta release is this good I have no idea what AT&T thinks is wrong with the final release. We're all waiting AT&T!!!

[zloafer]

hotrodnc, how did you go about installing 7.1.258?  Any pointers would be much appreciated!

[JORENO]

AT&T is more interested in selling I-Phones and other makes than Blackberry's. So why not try to make BB users switch to other brands. Blackberry user's need all the help they can get right now! AT&T is not willing to help, they would rather see us get frustrated, and buy a different phone.

[lylone]

It was released in Canada yesterday to "Bell Mobility".  It needs to come soon since my 9860 is sucking battery bigtime!

[leosowner]

For the first time since having 9900 I am traveling in Europe. And although I'm not using voice as much as I would in the States I'm still using data extensively. In France I'm on O2 and in germany on E-Plus and both networks are 3G. Once in a while in drops to 2G for a moment but I'm getting almost twice the battery duration as I do on 4G on AT&T. I do believe the battery is not as good as previous Blackberry models and software but least I could use the phone for about two days without charging if I wanted and I believe the 4Gnetwork has a lot to do with it.

[lylone]

I downloaded the update from Bell Mobility, removed the vendor.xml file and installed it on my 9860.  So far so good and it seems to be sucking less battery as I am one bar down and it has been used for 3 hours.  Usually it would be more drained by then.  Running 3 emails, GPS, facebook and the normal load.

I see a new option for Mobile Hotspot....  oh my!!!  that is a great plus!

[JORENO]

MY 9860 does not show battery rate bar graph.

[lylone]

My battery bar at the top of my device decreases by bars or squares.  This is what I was referring to.

[jeffh322]

That sucks that you feel that way.  I have been running 7.1.342 on my BB Bold 9900 and it works flawlessly.  I found the version by going to crackberry.com and finding the "sticky" message for my device in their forums.  Then you will want to make sure you follow their directions on how to install a new OS (i.e. deleting the vendor.xml file).

I have been loading non-AT&T sanctioned versions of BB OS for years.  Some have been very good experiences, but occiaisionally you'll run into a dud.  Once you get the hang of wiping and restoring the OS to your phone it's super easy to go back.

[Zonderman]

Ive tried to update myself but it never works (I have attempted 4-5 times now) it just tells me there is no update for my device available. 

[pliesenb]

it is truly a disgrace that at&t has neither released 7.1 nor communicated any plans around it. knowing there are genuine problems around a device and being so negligent in releasing a fix that is perfectly available is very disappointing. i have been an at&t wirelsss customer since the days when it was cingular. because of this i shall consider alternatives when my contract is up in 3 months.

[joeldf]

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Zonderman wrote:

Ive tried to update myself but it never works (I have attempted 4-5 times now) it just tells me there is no update for my device available. 

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How did you try to update it?

If you downloaded another vendor's OS, did you delete the "vendor.xml" file?  If you are on Windows 7, it will be in two directories, so make sure you do a search on your hard drive and delete all that are found.

[joeldf]

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CheatedBB wrote:

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hotrodnc wrote:
Come on AT&T! If it takes y'all this long to add your bloatware to the OS, maybe you should think about cutting out some of the software in the OS.

Sincerely,
The BlackBerry Community

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Fun Fact- the bloatware is already on the phone and included in the 7.1 OS!

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Actually, most "bloatware" is added to the phone through service books sent to your phone as soon you log onto AT&T's mobile network.  That's why you get AT&T specific stuff no matter where you got the OS - whether from another vendor or a leaked OS.  The OS itself is the same no matter what vendor it came from or if if was a leak.  The only difference with a leaked OS installation is that it generally just doesn't have the "vendor.xml" file included - but that's it.  The main OS installation file includes all files needed for every carrier out there - and it's RIM that puts it together.  It sees the Vendor ID number hardcoded in the phone itself to determine what vendor specific files to include - usually related to things like the theme, what backgrounds to include for the default theme (AT&T's blue "death star" logo background, Verizon's red check logo, etc...), and what features specific to a vendor to load (like UMA for T-Mobile, but not for AT&T).

All the carrier does with an OS build is test it on their networks.  If something isn't right, they don't release it, and if there is a major problem, they get with RIM to fix it and test another build.

It's their testing and review process that takes too long.

[debernsen]

When do you expect to release 7.1?

[lylone]

I bet that ATT won't release it because it includes a feature for a mobile hotspot.  They are probably trying to tweak it and remove that feature.  Mine is running off another carrier's version of 7.1 and I have had NO issues at all.  Battery life seems to actually improved.

[Hulhubber]

i updated a Bold 9900 using another carriers OS nad found that i couldn't use the phone section; i could hear but not be heard.

Anyway, i was told by an ATT wireless chat agent that their version of 7.1 was coming out on 5/16.  Don't hold your breath.