Sprint issues warning for HTC Hero Android update

Firmware update wipes data from handsets

HTC Hero users on Sprint will want to back up their data before updating to Android 2.1

Sprint has issued a firmware update along with a warning for users running the HTC Hero smartphone.

The mobile operator said that the Android 2.1 'Eclair' update effectively wipes all data from the smartphone, and that users should back up any data before installing the update.

"You will lose contacts that have not been synchronised with an email account, text messages that have not been forwarded, saved voicemail messages older than five days, voicemails older than 20 days that have not been listened to, and call history," Sprint said in an advisory.

The company also advised users to remove the handset's microSD storage card, which stores all photos, music, video and saved files.

Users can download the Hero firmware update onto a PC from Sprint's support site and then transfer the update to the handset via USB cable through the HTC Sync tool.

Hero owners are also advised to fully charge the battery, close all open applications and disable standby or hibernation modes on their PCs before running the update software.