O2 starts Android 2.2 update for HTC Desire -- and then suspends it

O2 is the latest operator to make a hash of upgrading handsets to Android 2.2. A Froyo update for the HTC Desire went live this morning and was then promptly suspended, due to reported problems with installing it.

On the O2 forums, one user, Potzy, said that his O2-branded HTC Desire had prompted him to install a system update. But, in his next entry, he said: "Maybe spoke too soon, I think the update may have bricked my phone. It won't start up now, gets stuck on the O2 blue start-up screen."

Others people reported problems with their phone freezing up. The upgrade appears to have worked for some posters on the forum, however, despite a few crashed browsers. Because of the problems, O2 has decided to put the update on hold.

In a statement, O2 said: "The Android 2.2 Froyo update for HTC Desire went live on O2 this morning. While many have been able to download it successfully, we have had a small number of reports of customers having problems installing the software, which we are looking into. While we investigate these issues, we're putting the 2.2 update on hold."

So far, the HTC Desire's upgrade to Android 2.2 on the various networks has been a shameful tale of woe.

Vodafone ended up red-faced after customers downloaded an update thinking it was Android 2.2, only to find out it was full of Vodafone 360 apps. Orange customers will have to wait until the middle of September before getting 2.2.

Both Vodafone and Orange have said that necessary testing of the new version of Android is the reason for the delayed roll-out. HTC first released its tweaked version of Android 2.2 at the beginning of August.

At least Desire owners will eventually get an upgrade though. They might like to consider holding a candlelit vigil for Motorola Dext owners, who will be eternally stuck on Android 1.5.

Do the operators' problems with Android updates tempt you to simply go unlocked? Let us know in the usual place, fellow technology enthusiasts.