T-Mobile G2 (HTC Hero) Receives Android 2.1

Following the availability of an Android 2.1 software update for the European version of HTC Hero, news on wireless carriers on the old continent starting to update the branded Hero units have started to emerge. First in the row is T-Mobile UK, which has just announced that the Android 2.1 software update for its version of HTC Hero, dubbed T-Mobile G2, is now available for download. To be more precise, starting with Thursday, G2 users are able to download the Android 2.1 update over the air on their devices.

Here's what a recent post on the carrier's forum notes:
Hi everybody
We have some exciting news for all our G2 users.
The 2.1 firmware update (éclair) will be available from today and will be sent over the air (OTA) direct to your phone over the coming weeks.
You'll need to save all your personal data before you start downloading. That's because the upgrade will delete all personal info including software applications from the device.

The greatest stress here is on the performing of a backup of all data on the device before proceeding with the update, so as to make sure that no important info is lost during the process. Unbranded HTC Hero units out there have received the solution since over two weeks ago, but the delivery of the update via wireless carriers was delayed. However, with T-Mobile UK making the first step in this direction, chances are that other operators in Europe would also start rolling out the software to their users in the near future.

HTC Hero arrived on the market over one year ago as the first device from HTC to include the highly appealing HTC Sense solution. It landed with Android 1.5 on board and, although Google release more than three new versions of the operating system since then, HTC delayed upgrading it to a newer platform until now. There are a lot of benefits that users would enjoy following the Android 2.1 update, including access to more applications in the Android Market, multi-touch capabilities, and more.