At this point, shouldn’t we just start to assume that Motorola has moved on from Milestone users and is instead focusing on new devices with newer versions of Android?  The phone is the exact same device as the original Droid who is now running 2.2.1, yet the carrier partners can’t figure out a way to get even 2.2 running on it?  Are they struggling with how pieces of bloatware to include?  There shouldn’t be a hold up.  I apologize for the rant, but this is one of the top selling devices of all time and there are thousands of users in dozens of countries that are stuck on an OS that is about to be 2 stages behind.  Unacceptable.

Via:  Motorola Europe

Cheers Eric!

Poor Motorola Milestone users.  The original Droid has been on Android 2.2 for months now, yet Moto continues to test it again and again for its worldly brother.  It’s the exact same hardware as the U.S. version which is running Froyo flawlessly…what’s the hold up?  Well, they posted an update to their Facebook page yesterday that has as you can imagine, left Milestone owners even more frustrated than before.

Testing seems to be done, but now it’ll be up to operators and retail partners to decide if Froyo is good enough.  And I’m speechless.  So we’re another 6 months out then?

Via:  Motorola Europe

It looks like that HTC Bee ROM that was floating around with Alltel branding on it wasn’t lying.  The shot above is of HTC Desire and Bee dummy phones that are beginning to arrive at Alltel Wireless stores meaning the devices will be available in the coming weeks.  The HTC Desire is sort of a surprise and our sources have it actually launching as the “Spitfire” or at least something along those lines.

A lot of us thought Alltel was dead, but they are starting to put together quite a nice Android lineup which already includes the Motorola Milestone.

Cheers Alltel!

Android 2.2 for the Motorola Milestone has been quite the hot topic over the last few months.  Some countries were left out entirely when it was announced, only to be included after owner outrage, but now with the timeline semi-locked down Moto is ready to start testing.  The European Milestone is up first for user trials…

Hello. From next week we start user trials of the European Milestone upgrade to Froyo. Once these are complete, we will know what further work is required to
optimise, before going into final testing and approval stage. As previously we plan to start rolling the update at the end of this year, but wanted to keep you updated. Thanks

Looks like Moto is setting its sights on that Q1 2011 deadline.  And how about this super early progress report?  You’ve got to love that.

Source:  Motorola Europe Facebook
Via:  Phandroid

One of our readers from Israel just sent in the screenshots above which show his Motorola Milestone running Android 2.1, but with a market that allows apps to be auto-updated just like 2.2.  He received some sort of an update to his market within the last couple of days which happened essentially at the same time that the Android team announced support of paid apps to a new batch of countries (including Israel of course).  Does this mean that all Milestones in new paid app countries will have this wonderful Froyo option?  Let’s hope so.  I can’t even imagine life without it.

Remember when we said that the Motorola Milestone would be hitting Alltel Wireless stores on the 23rd?  Well, it did.  As an Alltel customer, you can pick it up today and enjoy one of the last stock “Google Experience” phones ever.  It’s really no different than the Droid on Verizon, but it’s a hell of a lot better than the Hero which is your only other option on this carrier.  

Just received a hot little tip that the Motorola Milestone should be hitting Alltel Wireless next Thursday, September 23.  And I know what you are thinking, “What? Why now?”  Same questions I asked and all I really can say is that a dying phone is meeting a dying carrier.  Match made in heaven?  (Cheap shots on a Saturday morning!)

What I’m wondering is if AT&T will absorb the Milestone into its Android lineup once it completes its takeover of certain Alltel areas?  Interesting.  And no this is not the Milestone 2.

Update:  Alltel is not dead (yet) for those asking.  Verizon bought them, had to leave some of the stores open as “Alltel” and then was forced to sell them off to AT&T.  Those remaining stores will be AT&T in January.  Until then, still Alltel.

Update 2:  Here is a shot showing that the official Milestone page at Alltel’s site is up, but currently redirecting.  And you all said Alltel was dead.  (Cheers @andrewcweaver!)

Update 3:  If you plug in zip code 59505 you can get to the Milestone page through this link which still just says “coming soon”…

Anyone an Alltel customer?  I think your option is the HTC Hero at this point, so would this interest you?

Cheers Jason!

The Motorola Milestone 2 made an unexpected appearance today and one that wasn’t planned by Motorola from what we can tell.  A full on intro video was found by Android Central then quickly removed only to re-appear again from some a sneaky Engadget reader.

Some interesting facts from the video:

• Opening credit mentions “Motorola Milestone 2 with MotoBlur”.  Yuck.
• HD video.  (Yep, the same feature left off of the Droid 2.)
• Flash 10.1.
• 1 GHz processor.
• Up to 40GB of storage.
• 3G mobile hotspot.
• New Droid 2 keyboard.
• Improved camera with dual LED flash.
• Seriously, MotoBlur everywhere.

Check out the video after the jump before it’s pulled!