T-Mobile G1 Getting ''Maintenance'' Update to Android OS

T-Mobile has begun rolling out a small maintenance update to the version of the Android OS on the T-Mobile G1. This is not the rumored "cupcake" update many are eagerly waiting for, but still provides a few new features and software bug fixes.

What's New?

According to T-Mobile, this update -- MR 1.1 RC33 -- offers the following new features:

• Support "Check For Upgrades" (New feature to check for system upgrades)
• Voice Search (New Google feature for searching)
• Ability to save pictures received as MMS

There are also some bug fixes, including one that forces users to sign back into their IM sessions if they shut down Wi-Fi, and another that causes users to miss appoints because the reminder doesn't go off.

More information on the changes included in the maintenance release are available on the official T-Mobile G1 forum.

OTA Delivery

This update is being distributed over-the-air, and T-Mobile says all G1 users should receive it within the next two weeks.

It's possible a version that users can manually install will appear on the Web in the near future, but the officially sanctioned method is OTA.

No Cupcake, Yet

As mentioned earlier, MR 1.1 RC33 is not the "Cupcake" system software update that there have been so many rumors about. This means it does not contain the on-screen keyboard some users are looking forward to.

According to T-Mobile, cupcake "is an Android development branch that is a work in progress."

There is no word on when this update will be released.