Hero update blocks Marketplace

The latest update to Orange's Hero handset, manufactured by HTC, is blocking access to the Android marketplace again.

An update to the handset released last month causes some paid applications to vanish from the Android marketplace. HTC is not interested in fixing the problem, which it blames squarely on Orange:

"HTC won't release any software update on this matter but Orange UK is free to upload at any time to our web server a support solution" the company told one Reg reader, continuing that "Orange UK ... is aware of the issues and is working to urgently resolve them." The missive explained that the problem stems from a server of some sort, rather than the handset.

This is little comfort to Orange customers with a Hero, though not many of them will notice. The applications involved don't refuse to download, they simply don't appear in the list available, so unless a customer is looking for a specific app they're unlikely to ever know that something was wrong.

The same thing happened in August last year. At that time it was copy-protected applications which disappeared, and it seems probable that the same thing has happened this time around.

We spoke to Orange, but the company apparently didn't know about the problem, so we pointed out some of the busier forums on the subject and will let you know when we hear back. ®