Android 2.1 Available From ACS and GCI

As announced last week, Alaskan wireless carriers ACS and GCI today made the Android 2.1 upgrade available for their respective customers to download through their websites.

Before jumping on the bandwagon, you may want to ask "what's new" and is the upgrade worth it? According to ACS, these are some of the things you'll find in 2.1:

• Support for MMS (picture and video messaging)
• Pinch Zoom Gesture Support for Gallery, Google Maps and Other Apps
• Leap Thumbnail Views with Pinch Gesture

• Enhanced Graphical Android Market with Access to over 45,000 Apps
• Simultaneous Logon to Multiple Gmail Accounts
• Bluetooth Contact Transfer Support
• Improved Battery Life
• Voice Dialing
• Voice Commands
• Active Call Screen with Speakerphone and Mute Buttons On Screen
• Enhanced Camera Features Including White Balance and Scene Modes
• User Dictionary Management (add, delete and edit custom words use
  for messages and typing)
• Smarter Keyboard Calibration
• And much more...

For now, both companies require that a Windows machine is used for the upgrade. ACS also offers in-store assistance for those that need help with the upgrade.

To download the respective updates, visit the below pages:

• ACS Wireless
• GCI/Alaska Digitel

If you're one of those that don't have access to a Windows computer and don't feel like going to a store, here's a suggestion for how to install the ACS update no matter what computer you have:

• http://www.apexalaska.com/installing-the-2-1-update-without-a-windows-pc/

Using Google Voice With Unsupported Carriers

Google Voice was made available to all interested parties this past week, giving all of those interested in it a chance to try it out. No more need to request and invite, no more waiting for the eventual invite to arrive.

Alas, many smaller regional carriers, such as those here in Alaska, are not on the list of supported carriers. What to do, what to do?

Although this could be a problem, it really isn't. The carrier support only really seems to be needed for the part where the voicemail is activated for one of your phone numbers so in the end, whether your carrier is supported or not is irrelevant.

What does this mean?

It means you can pick another carrier, like Verizon, and Google Voice will still work ok.

I did exactly this. I picked Verizon and got this pop-up:

The *71 is the call forward immediate code and my Google number is immediately after it.

So, if you're using a carrier that is not supported, simply substitute your carriers call forward immediate code and Google Voice now works on your phone as well.

One important note to keep in mind: Google Voice numbers can be long distance, especially if you live in Alaska like I do. So, if you want to use Google Voice for your voice mail, make sure you have nationwide plan.

In addition, if you're using an Android handset, you also have the Google Voice app available for download in the Android Market. How much easier can it be to keep all your voice mail handy?

To find out what your carrier's call forwarding code is, contact your local carrier.

Blackberry Storm 2 Coming to Alaska

Alaska has had a busy couple of days with multiple carriers announcing the release of additional Android phones as well as the Android 2.1 update coming next week.

As if that was not enough, GCI goes ahead and announced the impending availability of the Blackberry Storm 2 for the Alaskan market.

We have another exciting product launching coming up at GCI, as we will be launching the BlackBerry Storm 2 (GSM/CDMA) in the coming weeks.

The original Blackberry Storm never made it to Alaska and it didn't seem that too many cared. The Storm, although a touch phone, never quite had a reputation as a fantastic touch screen phone.

With the Storm 2, some changes have been made and I'm sure time will tell whether it was enough.

Android 2.1 Available In Alaska Next Week

After many months of waiting patiently, Alaskans who has ACS as their carrier will finally get to experience Android 2.1 for their HTC Hero's on 6/29.

ACS announced the availability of the update today through their Facebook page, just a day after announcing that their customers will soon be able to buy the HTC Desire and the Motorola Milestone through ACS.

It’s ready! We are very excited to announce the Android 2.1 update will be available for ACS customers this Tuesday (6/24). A link to the update file and instructions will be posted here that morning. Thank you all for your patience, I know it has been a long wait.

Although 6/24 is set as the date in the official post, a later comment corrected this to 6/29.

Not to be outdone, GCI, the local competitor that beat ACS with their Desire/Milestone announcement, posted a tweet while this post was being written outlining similar intentions.

We're also pleased to announce that Android 2.1 for HTC Hero users will be coming next week. Look here for more on that early next week.

Overall, this is good news for customers of both carriers, both of which will be able to take advantage of the new features of 2.1. If you have a Hero, I suggest you get ready.

Sources:

• ACS Facebook
• GCI Twitter

New Android Device Announcements From Alaska Wireless Carrier

Hot on the heels of the Twitter announcement by local Alaska wireless carrier GCI a few days ago, Alaska Communications Systems (ACS) announced yesterday on their Facebook page that they will also be getting the HTC Desire and the Motorola Milestone very soon:

ACS is excited to announce our next Android devices, the Motorola Milestone and the HTC Desire. These are two of the hottest Android devices on the market. Stay tuned, the release date for these new devices will be announced very soon.

For customers, this is exciting news. The Alaska carriers has so far only launched one Android handset, the HTC Hero, and although a good phone, with Verizon having announced the Droid X yesterday, one can't help but feel that the Hero is a little dated.

Pricing information has not been made public by ACS but GCI has announced that the Milestone will be free, presumably with a 2 year commitment.


The question remains as to whether other smaller Alaska carriers, such as MTA, will follow.