Barely a month after it came out the BlackBerry 8320 from T-Mobile has a software upgrade available. It's not BlackBerry OS 4.3, unfortunately, but it is supposed to help improve the performance of the new BlackBerry's Wi-Fi and audio components. Specifically, the following:
Improved quality and reliability of the audio experience during phone calls.
Improved retention of UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) parameters after performing a restore using Desktop Manager.
(UMA, a fixed-mobile convergence technology, allows the 8320 to seamlessly switch voice calls and data connections between a wireless carrier's cellular network and a Wi-Fi network, depending on which is cheapest to use or available at a given moment. T-Mobile has the largest Wi-Fi footprint among mobile operators in the U.S. and how offers a service called UMA service called Hotspot @Home.)
T-Mobile is advising all customers to upgrade their Curve to the new software, which is labeled version 4.2.2.180.
To get the software update log into My T-Mobile and click on your phone's picture in the top right hand corner and then click system upgrade under downloads. You can also go to www.t-mobile.com/bbupgrade/ to download the upgrade.
A few pointers to make upgrading go smoothly:
Make sure you back up your Curve, either during the upgrade or beforehand, so you don't lose anything you have saved on the BlackBerry, such as e-mails and your address book.
Allow plenty of time, at least an hour so you don't feel rushed. If it takes a long time, don't panic.
Do not remove your BlackBerry from the computer until Desktop Manager tells you the upgrade is complete.
You have to download the upgrade to a computer, install it to the computer, and run Desktop Manager to complete the upgrade. It cannot be done over the air.
Reset your TCP/APN settings as soon as you are done. They will not carry over in the restore process.
Have the keys to your applications handy after the upgrade is complete. Some applications will require you to enter them in again.
Good luck and happy upgrading.
