Virtual Interview – Calling all Android users!

[Chris_K]

Hello Community folks.

We saw a lot of great activity with our previous ‘Virtual Interviews’. It has been a while since our last one, so we feel it's time to announce our next one and yep, you guessed it, it's about devices- Android specifically! We will have guests representing HTC, Samsung, Sony, Alcatel, LG, Huawei & Motorola who work in the O2 Device Team, who will be here to answer your questions on 15^thJanuary from 12:00PM to 13:30PM (90mins). These guests will be Helen McKerrow, Martin Heap, Richard Biltcliffe, Richard Fowler & Shaun Watt.

We know many of you love your smartphones and we know there's a huge Android fanbase here, interested in both hardware and software alike. If you've got a burning question for any of these manufacturers or anything Android OS related then simply post it below. Your questions could range from the process involving new devices to software updates or anything related to Android’s eco-system.

Virtual Interview topics always generate a lot of interest over and above people asking questions - to make it easier for us and the team to collate and spot questions easily, please highlight your questions in bold if you can.

To ask a question you'll need to be a registered O2 community member and be logged in. Please see this thread for details on how to do this > http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Welcome-News/What-s-the-O2-community-and-how-to-get-started/td-p/426482

[MI5]

The most obvious question is why does it take O2 so long to issue firmware updates? We've all heard the "testing for the best user experience" which is, as we all know, a poor excuse, as O2 do nothing apart from add the apps and welcome screens. Please don't patronise us by suggesting you need to test all your apps either as we all know they work fine on a sim free device

All other networks work quicker in releasing their updates, so is it O2 that are under staffed in this area or just slack 

[perksie]

Apart from the question raised by MI5 I don't think there are many that need answering as with Android most if not all the apps supplied by O2 work fairly well.

I think many would prefer it if earlier notice could be obtained about upcoming handset releases and whether or not O2 are likely to sell them.

[Anonymous]

I AGREE WITH YOU TOTALLY. THEY OUGHT TO BE MORE CONSIDERATE AND SEND A NOTIFICATION TEXT TO O2 customers .

[jonsie]

Do O2 have any input or influence at all with the manufacturers about software updates?

[perksie]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I AGREE WITH YOU TOTALLY. THEY OUGHT TO BE MORE CONSIDERATE AND SEND A NOTIFICATION TEXT TO O2 customers .

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Can you avoid using capitals as it comes across as shouting or rudeness in a forum?

Many complain they get too many so half the customers probably wouldn't agree.

(Edit as I mis-read the question.)

[MI5]

I'm not sure what the text requirement is for....?

[a_hcir]

Question: There seems to be a big buzz for the "Google Play edition" of big name phones, and people seem to enjoy unadulterated AOSP like the Nexus devices deliver. Why aren't the manufactures giving people what they want? Why can't they give us the option of an AOSP ROM as an alternative to their custom android overlays?

[MI5]

The previous question has prompted me to ask about O2's policy of locking bootloaders and refusing to allow them to be unlocked even when a phone is paid off and or out of contract?
I choose to stick whatever ROM I want on my phones but the bootloader lock limits my choices on some phones....... 😞

[anticpated]

There is a certain amount of marketing in os updates.Google are guilty aline by releasing them in line with new mobile handsets.

O2 do need test their apps although the m15 comment does have a grain of truth.