The two main issues could be Sprint’s inability to deliver over the air updates and the fact that Android 2.1 upgrades require a wipe. Customers will be able to download the updates from their PC, but there is a concern many will not. We recently learned that 90% of Samsung Moments were running a non-current software version (because the last update was also PC-based).

Rolling out a massive upgrade to all your customers is a huge challenge (just ask Verizon). No other United States carrier has released Android 2.1 for a first-gen phone, so it appears everyone is experiencing the same Android-growing-pains together. Either that or Google is secretly conspiring with the carriers on a simultaneous release (I doubt it).

It sounds like Sprint customers have a few more weeks of waiting at least. Sprint only uses “Q2″ when referring to the release schedule, so it could happen at the end of June for all we know.

The following is a quick update that was posted on the official Sprint forums.

We wanted to let you know that Sprint continues to work closely with Samsung and HTC to deliver the highly anticipated Android 2.1 upgrade for Samsung Moment and HTC Hero. We are on track for the upgrade to be available in Q2. Sprint had hoped to have this resolved by now – we thank our customers for their patience as we work to bring them a positive experience with this upgrade.Official Sprint StatementRe: Android 2.1

Sprint will not initially offer over the air upgrades because the Android 2.1 packages are too large (80 MB for Moment, 117 MB for Hero) for their OTA servers. We pointed this out last year and it looks like Sprint was unable to come up with a working solution on time. Sprint has the option to use Google’s servers to roll out their upgrades, but they have not fully tested it and would be unable to meet the “required launch timeframe”.

The document claims the Moment will receive Android 2.1 on April 30 (today) and the Hero will follow in the first week of May. We know these dates change a lot, but both upgrades have been tested internally and should be ready to go.

Keep an eye on the Samsung Moment and HTC Hero support pages for updates. The files and instructions to perform a manual update will be posted on Sprint’s site when they are available.

It is also interesting to note that Sprint claims 90% of their Samsung Moment customers have a phone with a non-current software version. This could be because previous updates required the user to take their phone to a Sprint repair center or manually download the file. If the Hero and Moment follow a similar upgrade path, then we can assume a large portion of users will not update their phone without some extra help from Sprint.

The wait is almost over.

Screens are included below and I believe this information is accurate. Official Android 2.1 ROMs have already leaked for the Hero and Moment and we know that Sprint has been internally testing the new firmwares.

Right now it appears the Samsung Moment update will be a wired update and the Hero update could be done over the air. Both updates are expected to wipe the phone, but that has not been officially confirmed.

The wait is almost over.

Android 2.1 is coming in early May.

If you have already hacked your Samsung Moment, head over to sdx-developers and read the thread to see if you want to flash this build. (I’ve never hacked a Moment, but the instructions look fairly simple.) Normal users should just sit tight because we expect the official release to happen later this month.

The build information for the leaked ROM is:

• Firmware version: 2.1-update1
• Baseband version: s:m900.8.os.dd03
• Kernel version: 2.6.29
• Build number: elcair.dd03

Just as we reported earlier in the year, the update wipes all data and some Android 2.1 features are missing. The update does not appear to include multitouch pinch zoom controls and I have been unable to confirm that the Samsung display will even support it. Live wallpapers are also absent as we expected.

The user did not report how he received the update, but it is believed to be PC based like earlier Moment updates. When the time comes, customers should also be able to update their phones at a Sprint repair center.

Sprint PR is pretty on the ball, so we just have to wait and see when they reveal the full details of this update.

Just got it early this morning and it is not for general release yet. I just started playing with it, but it seems much faster/more responsive than 1.5.

It does not appear to have pinch-to-zoom on either the Gallery or the Browser. Same backgrounds/bloatware that 1.5 has. When you launch NFL Mobile Live, it tells you it will be replaced by “Sprint Football Live”.

It actually, now, has VPN built in (PPTP, L2TP, L2TP/IPSec both PSK and Certificate-based). Bluetooth is vastly improved. There is no more cutting out. Your headset will re-pair without having to put the phone into discoverable mode after you reboot.

You slide-to-answer a phone call now. It has voice input (“an experimental feature using Google’s networked speech recognition”) built it and it actually works! No more texting while driving! Extremely cool!

Email will now work with any certificate (not just signed).

The update erases everything on the device, and it’s probably a good idea just to reinstall everything from scratch. Some of the 1.5 apps I’m not finding in the Market for 2.1. And some versions of apps in the Market say they don’t work with 2.0 yet.KansasCityJoeAndroid Central forums

Can you hear the groans from Sprint customers? According to a Sprint employee at XDA-Developers CDMA Hero forum, Sprint has sent employees a memo outlining how to keep customers’ spirits up regarding the new update. This information has been taken as a refutation of recent rumors that the Hero and Moment would be updated on March 26th. Some key quotes can be found here:

Let your customers know we are actively working on having the Android 2.1 platform available to our Hero and Moment customers over the coming weeks. Look for more information coming in April about Android 2.1 platform for Hero and Moment.Internal Sprint Memo

The memo concludes by reminding Sprint employees that their customers use superior Android handsets and that About.com readers nominated the HTC Hero as their favorite smartphone in their 2010 Reader Choice Awards.

So, “over the coming weeks” and “information coming in April” aren’t exactly the words that Sprint customers want to hear, but some information is better than none, right? Granted, this is just a rumor from a Sprint employee, so take it with a grain of salt, a shaker, or none.

The service will be offered via the existing Sprint TV application and does not require a software upgrade.

“Mobile has become an invaluable screen to the digital consumer. To super serve sports fans, you have to provide live coverage on the go, and we are excited to be working with Sprint to provide this offering to its customers.”Matt MurphySVP ESPN Media Networks

We don’t have a Sprint Android phone at the moment so we are unable to review this service. If you own a HTC Hero or Samsung Moment, please let us know how the new ESPN Mobile TV performs.

Programming and live events through April include:

• 23 Live Men’s NCAA Basketball Games (including Conference Championship games)
• 19 Live Women’s NCAA Basketball Championship Games
• 9 NBA Playoff Games
• 15 Regular Season NBA Games
• 30 Live NBA Fastbreak Shows
• 10 Regular Season MLB Games
• 50 Live Baseball Tonight Studio Shows
• 3 College Football Spring games
• 3 Live Friday Night Fights
• 3 Live NCAA Hockey Championship Games
• 5 Live MLS Matches

I really think that Sprint wants to eventually send these out over-the-air (OTA), but maybe Samsung isn’t there yet. Sprint’s other Android phone, the HTC Hero, has received several small OTA maintenance releases.

The update leaves the phone’s firmware version on Android 1.5, but a future update to Android 2.1 is coming early Q2 2010.

For the customers who are not paying close attention (92%), Sprint will send out a SMS that notifies the user an update is available.

“SprintFreeMsg: Important software update required for your Samsung Moment.  View instructions at www.sprint.com/momentupdate.”Text notificationSprint

This update CL14 includes:

• Network Assist GPS to allow indoor location fix.
• Updates to several third-party apps, including Visual Voicemail, NFL, NASCAR and Sprint TV.
• Change to Emergency Dial on lock screen.
• Hard reset available in recovery mode: remove and reinsert battery; press volume down, send and end keys until reboot option pops up; scroll to wipe data/factory reset; press OK.
• Various improvements to battery life.