The HTC Droid Eris from Verizon is getting an over the air update over the next week. It will take about 15 minutes and should show up as a pop up notification. You can cancel it but it will keep popping up until you approve it. Here are the details:

• The wireless update will first be sent to a small percentage of handsets on Thursday 12/10/2009 and will be delivered to all Droid Eris users over a one week period.
• Approximate install time for the wireless update is between 10- 15 minutes.
• You will be unable to use your device or make emergency calls for the duration of the install.
• The software updates automatically, and your DROID ERIS will power off and on as part of this software update.
• To ensure a successful update, please make sure that your DROID ERIS has 40% or more available battery life if not connected to an external power source and 20% or more available battery life if connected to a power source.
• Customer may defer upgrade, however customer will continue to receive notification until action is taken.

The other option is to manually download the software and install it yourself. This will reset your phone to factory settings (SD card not effected) so I don’t recommend this. If necessary, here is how you do it:

If you would still prefer to download and install the software update via your PC, here are a few helpful hints to consider:

• All personalization/customization settings will be deleted. From widgets to customized screens all of these settings will be deleted and you will have to set these all up after performing the PC software update.

• When you first setup your device you were required to either setup a new Gmail account, or sign in to an existing one. By doing this, you were provided access to the following features on the phone, which would have backed up your information wirelessly:

o Gmail – Email and Contacts will be restored if this information is deleted from your phone, once you log back in using your existing Gmail account.
o Google Maps with Latitude – Latitude Contacts will be restored if this information is deleted from your phone, once you log back in using your existing Gmail account.
o Calendar – Your Calendar will be restored if this information is deleted from your phone, once you log back in using your existing Gmail account.
o Android Market – If applications that have been downloaded via the Android Market are deleted they can be restored. First log back into Android Market using your existing Gmail account, and then access the My Downloads folder to download each application again individually.

• Any content, such as pictures and videos, which were saved on the external 8GB microSD card will not be deleted.

• The upgrade process takes up to 10 minutes. It is recommended that you close all programs on your PC prior to starting the update program and do not open any applications or files while the update is in process. Before you download and Install the software update via your PC:

1. Back up your personal data from the Droid Eris to your computer using HTC Sync if you want to ensure you don’t lose any of your data. HTC Sync™ lets you synchronize Outlook and Windows Address Book (Outlook Express), contacts and calendar events on your PC with your phone. Click here to download HTC Sync™ (http://www.htc.com/us/support/droid-eris-verizon/downloads/)
2. Please make sure that your USB sync cable is connected to your Droid Eris and the computer.
3. Please make sure that the standby and hibernation modes are disabled on the PC.
4. Please make sure all running applications on the computer have been closed.
5. Do not interact with your Droid Eris unless instructed to do so.

Click here to download the update.

1. Download the update linked to above
2. Run the update program
3. Mark checkbox acknowledging the warning
4. Click Next

5. Turn on your Android and connect it to your computer
6. Diable the standby and hibernation modes on your PC.
7. Make sure the phone’s battery is more than 30%.
8. Check the box “I have completed the steps indicated above”.
9. Click next.

10. Wait while your phone is verified.

11. You will see your current ROM version. Click update to continue.

12. The most current ROM version will appear. Click next to continue.

13. The software will show you some details on what will happen during the update. Click Next.

14. You will see the following screen during the update:

15. Once completed you will see the confirmation screen. Click finish.