HTC Hero Getting Android OS 2.1 in Early Spring

The HTC Hero reportedly will be getting an operating system upgrade to Android OS 2.1, but not for several more months. This smartphone is currently running version 1.5, and Hero users have been getting impatient since version 2.1 was released several weeks ago.

HTC has previously committed to releasing Android OS 2.0 for the Hero, but has been vague about timing. Now there's word that this company is going to skip directly to the newer 2.1 version>

According to information coming from the European carrier Meteor, this upgrade should be released by the end of March.

The U.S. carrier Sprint has promised it will release the 2.0 operating system upgrade when it becomes available. Verizon also offers a version of the Hero -- renamed the HTC Droid Eris -- and HTC has committed to an Android OS 2.0 upgrade for this model, too.  Therefore, it would be very surprising if these carriers passed on the Android OS 2.1 upgrade.

More about this Upgrade
Version 2.1 of Google's OS offers a range of features, such as support for multiple Microsoft Exchange accounts, an updated version of the web browser, and better camera software.

This will be a free upgrade, and will include HTC Sense, this company's alternate user interface that expands on Google's standard one. Porting sense to the newer versions of this OS is reportedly what's holding up the release of the upgrade.

HTC had hoped to have the Android 2.0 upgrade out to users in the first month or so of this year, but the move the version 2.1 has apparently delayed the debut.

More about the HTC Hero
The Hero is HTC's most widely-available phone running Google's Android OS -- its offered in Europe, and in the U.S. from Sprint. Plus, as mentioned earlier, Verizon also has its version, renamed the HTC Droid Eris.

It has a tablet shape with a 3.2-inch HVGA screen and trackball, but no hardware keyboard.

In addition, it offers mobile broadband, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5 MPx camera, and a GPS receiver.

Source: Meteor