Last weekend I updated the ROM of my HTC Touch (Sprint Network) mobile phone. I have been waiting for this ROM upgrade for quite some time.
I will break this part of the post into installation, few of the features, and end with my summary. As and when I get to additional features, I will add new posts.
Installation
I had read about many of the features Windows Mobile (WM) 6.1, enabling GPS on the hardware, higher network speeds etc. that were supposed to be released with the ROM upgrade. So was eagerly looking forward to the Sprint release.
Finding the ROM update was not very intuitive. I looked at the Sprint site on 7/26 and did not notice any update. I had been following a few blogs and posts for this ROM update, and noticed that one of the blogs had a mention of a new ROM download at the HTC site. I followed the link to get to the [HTC Touch (Sprint) Support site – updated link 2/16] which had the download. This was posted to HTC on 7/21.
The download and installation was pretty straightforward. I followed the installation instructions as is on the site, and upgraded the ROM on my mobile device (to version 3.03.651.4) . The whole process took about 20 minutes.
Features
As soon as the phone restarted, it was time to party on the features. The first thing I noticed was that the user interface was not changed from WM 6 to WM 6.1 
Exchange Server Setup
Setting up the exchange server is noticeably much more convenient on WM 6.1. I did not have to go through any of the detailed settings. I remember only having to provide my email address, and then was prompted for the username and password. After doing these few tasks, my exchange server was setup. Kudos to WM 6.1 to simplify this process.
GPS functionality enabled on the device
Yeah!!! Finally!!! This was the reason why I was eagerly waiting for this upgrade. I am one of the folks who needs a GPS. I did not have to mess around with any of the GPS settings. I stepped out to the back porch of the house, started my Live Search application on the mobile device, clicked on Map, and selected the option ‘Center on GPS’ from the Menu options. And Walla!! Within 10-15 seconds the location of my house was displayed on the map.
I have been very impressed with the GPS feature. I have used it while driving, and have noticed that the GPS location mapping is pretty accurate.
I am currently in the process of installing CoPilot Live on my mobile device.
Full QWERTY Keyboard
A new QWERTY touch keyboard comes default with this build. This keyboard is pretty easy to use. The keys are separated enough to be able to select the appropriate letters with the thumb.
I have moved from my Touch Keyboard to this new QWERTY keyboard. The one thing I found irritating is the T9 (word completion feature). Seems like after typing a particular number of characters, the displayed word was automatically entered. I like more control over the the suggested words. I have not played much with the settings, so there could potentially be an easy fix for this issue.
Browsers
The IE mobile browser provides the ability to Zoom Out and view the complete Web Page. I can then select the section I want to Zoom in on.
This build also comes with the Opera Browser. I have not played around much with Opera, but I noticed tabbed browsing as soon as I launched Opera. This feature alone will sway me towards using Opera over IE mobile.
Conversation Style Text Messaging
The text messaging feature is a huge improvement. This follows more of a conversational style of text messaging, where all the threads (sent and received text messages of a single topic) show in the single conversation (sample screen shot from WM 6.1 site)
Network Speed
I have in general noticed better network speed, however have not run speed tests yet. I will run the tests and post an update
General
I must add that I loved the Bluetooth setup on WM 6.1 as well. No more code needed to pair with the Bluetooth headset.
Summary
I must say that this ROM upgrade to the HTC Touch has been amazing. Apart from WM 6.1 and GPS, the phone in general seems pretty zippy. This is also after installing the additional applications I had on my phone before the upgrade.
I highly recommend folks with the HTC Touch (Sprint) to install the upgrade on their phones.
Kudos to Windows Mobile 6.1, HTC and Sprint network.
[...] I had been following a few blogs and posts for this ROM update, and noticed that one of the blogs had a mention of a new ROM download at the HTC site. I followed the link to get to the HTC Touch (Sprint) Support site which had the … Read More [...]
Pingback by HTC Touch (Sprint) ROM update (Part 0) | HTCPhoneBlog.info — July 31, 2008 @ 8:00 am
Thanks for the post. I am attempting to upgrade now. The HTC website will not recognize my serial number. Two Sprints stores and the customer sevice line and tech support have been no help what so ever. I have been able to erase into space all of my contacts. This was accomplished while trying to synch my outlook contacts. AHH! All I wanted was the GPS.
Comment by Ben Linthicum — August 24, 2008 @ 7:23 pm
Hi Ben, Hope the upgrade works well. The GPS is pretty useful, and works great. We have been using the GPS with Live Search pretty frequently. Planning on getting a the ALK CoPilot GPS software as well.
I have also been very impressed with the 6.1 upgrade.
Comment by santosh balasubramanian — August 24, 2008 @ 9:11 pm
Is your HTC Touch mobile GSM, as I have also downloaded the exe file form HTC site for Sprint. But I want to know whether I can upgrade my HTC Touch GSM set or not? Pls reply soon.
Comment by Niraj Kumar Jha — October 24, 2008 @ 4:55 am
My HTC Touch is not on the GSM as I am on the Sprint network. Sprint is on CDMA.
I do not think you can update your GSM phone with this build.
Here is a link to the HTC Touch GSM phone support from the HTC site (should have the software upgrade) – http://www.htc.com/us/faq_detail.aspx?p_id=88&act=faq&cat=268
Comment by santosh balasubramanian — October 27, 2008 @ 11:09 am
hey that wpgrade sounds great…. but sprint pulled it off their website…. do you know of anyone else with the ROM upgrade? i just got the touch from a friend of mine… and i cant even send pic mail… so i am trying to get the 6.1 upgrade
Comment by bubba_lugg — November 4, 2008 @ 5:43 am
Hello Santosh,
Thank you for posting about your success with the GPS feature in your Touch. I also have a Touch and just updated the ROM yet cannot seem tot get the GPS to work. I am on Sprint, as you are.
I have been trying to use Google Maps for Mobile, from what I have read it should work. SOmeone even told me that I had to set the GPS to use COM4, but so far no amount of tweking will work. I have no interest in buying a nav app, I already own a Magellan unit, but I want to see if I can get my phone to pinch-hit for me when the Magellan isn’t available, and seeing as how the Touch is purported to be able to do it, I’d like to do it if I can.
Fortunately I have an unlimited data plan but it doesn’t include Sprint NAv services, so I need something like Google Maps fr Mobile (or some other suitable freeware app) to make it work.
Any advice?
Thanks,
Matt
Comment by Matt Rogers — November 5, 2008 @ 8:05 am
Hi bubba_lugg – I got the ROM upgrade from the HTC site (still available) –
URL – http://www.htc.com/us/SupportDownload.aspx?p_id=76&cat=2&dl_id=66
.santosh.
Comment by santosh balasubramanian — November 5, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Hi Matt,
I did not have to do any additional settings after upgrading the ROM for the GPS funcationality.
My default GPS settings in ‘Settings -> External GPS’ are –
1. Progams tab – GPS Program Port = ‘COM4′
2. Hardware tab – GPS Hardware Port = (None), Baud rate = 4800
3. Access tab – Manage GPS automatically (recommended) is ‘checked’
I am using Live Search 4 mobile – http://livesearchmobile.com/?mid=1011 as my GPS currently, and it is working great.
I have talked to folks who are using Google Maps successfully as well.
thanks,
.santosh.
Comment by santosh balasubramanian — November 5, 2008 @ 11:02 am
i loved your post and have a hard time with sprints gps. the live search is cool. thanks. however i am running vista 32 bit on my pc and the 6.1 on my touch. i have not been able to sync my contacts to my pc. and my t9 has not worked once so ever since the upgrade. also before the upgrade i could access my call history from the today screen, now i can’t.and on top of that i still can’t send picture mail to numbers, nor have i found a way to do group texting other than ; make a new text, add all the people for that group, copy and paste into a note. and save. then when i’m ready to text that group i have to open that note and copy and paste the contact list……. please tell me there’s an easier way.
i got a stupid smartphone…lol…. seriously i luv alot of the other features
Unleashed, Cleveland Ruff Ryders
Comment by unleashed — December 18, 2008 @ 8:57 am
i cannot find the rom for the sprint download, please help
Comment by Matthew — February 16, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
Hi Matthew, I found the update on – http://www.htc.com/us/SupportDownload.aspx?p_id=76&cat=2&dl_id=66
Comment by santosh balasubramanian — February 16, 2009 @ 11:15 pm
he guys…
first of all….hv ben really looking for this kind of blog…thanks a lot….n especially santosh!
my device(64MB ROM / 128MB RAM)
I AM UNABLE 2 FIND THE 6.1 UPGRADE 4 MY DEVICE….PLZ ANY ONE?
the service center claims that my device, P3450 cannot be upgraded to 6.1 and only P3402 can!… is this true….?
plz help… !!
Comment by mickey(india) — February 21, 2009 @ 4:19 am