The curious case of the Z3V

[zablet]

Since Verizon has abandoned the Z3V I want to give some visiblity to this issue here.

My spouse works in a building where only Verizon gets ANY coverage at all (no exaggeration). She was in love with my Z3 and I advised her to switch to Verizon and get the Z3V. It has been over a year and I don't believe her phone has seen even one single update. I'm not one of these folks that clamors for updates just for the sake of updating. Lollipop has its own set of issues. The z3v is still running 4.4.4, and is loaded with all sorts of Verizon customizations but it has most damingly never receieved even a single security update (including Stagefright). It appears to be abandoned by Verizon and by implication.... Sony...

So essentially, we signed a 2 yr contract for a phone that was discontinued and abandoned in less than year.  I'm embarassed for recommending her to get this device but, sadly she was stuck with this CDMA carrier. A look at the Verizon forums reveals lots of threads like this:

https://community.verizonwireless.com/thread/898347

Just to be clear, I am well aware that this type of issue is rampant across the android landscape, however this is by far the worst situation of any "flagship" device in recent history. I know that the Sony sees the US market as B2B arena and would like to gain traction here. Unfortunately, this is the result of that miserably failed attempt at B2B relationship with Verizon. Some pressure needs to be applied to Verizon. This is embarassing to your brand.

[Uliwooly]

@zablet

I understand the frustration but this is on Verizon, just like T-mobile has or had the Z3 but they decided not to roll out any more updates, its on them not Sony, the reasoning behind it are contracts, Sony can't roll out an update w/o the network approval on their branded devices. 

[zablet]

You're preaching to the choir. I'm well aware of the relationships and contracts. The issue is that this is a terrible situation that resulted from one of those same contracts you referred to. Something has obviously soured the relationship between Verizon and Sony and customers deserve better.

If I had my way, Sony Mobile would never release another carrier branded device in this country. The landscape is changing and hopefully they can find a niche for themselves in the unlocked market. 

Pressuring Verizon as a a small group of consumers is a grand waste of time; they don't care. In anycase, hopefully a moderator can pass on my feedback internally.

[Uliwooly]

@zablet

I understand your frustration and I can escalate your issue, but the pressure should be on Verizon, if you are aware of contracts I don't understand what is it that you are requesting from Sony if this is on Verizon but you have your opinion and I have mine.

You can also contact Sony directly >>> Local support

[zablet]

Sorry, but I don't accept that Sony is 100% powerless here nor can they just wash their hands of the device so easily. I bought the device inspite of the Verizon logo plastered all over the device, not because of it. Sony's logo is on it too. My hope is simply that Sony Mobile we get my feedback. That is all I am asking.

Please pass on the feedback by any channels you can. I don't frankly expect much at this point from Verizon.

Thanks!

[Uliwooly]

@zablet

I have done so, and I know its frustrating but since this is a CDMA I doubt that you could use flashtool and/or xperiafirm, this is an option or a way around this network locks, an example, the Z3 on T-mobile, they can use such tools to have the latest update. 

[racer0018]

Is there anyway this phone will get any updates at all. Being that I live in a small town,there isn't a lot of choices out there for phones and networks that I can choose from. US cellular and Verizon are the only ones. Therefore my choices for phones are limited. I have always been a Sony fan, laptops, surround sound, psp,vita, ps3,ps4, TV, Blu-ray players and a lot more products, I figured it was only natural to go with a Sony phone. So I bought it and come to find out that now after a year I'm still on 4.4.4, while my wife is on Samsung newest firmware.
So I did some looking and found that one of the only phones that sony won't have new firmware for is this phone. All phones newer then this yes. And some phones older then this yes but not this one. I was wondering if we could marshmallow android on this phone and if not then maybe an unlocked bootloader to install marshmallow for ourselves.

It's almost like, hey spend the hundreds of dollars and buy this phone but after you get it,it's BTW you won't get any firmware updates for it but thanks for nothing. Any help would be welcomed.

[Uliwooly]

@racer0018

I"m sorry to hear that but if you have the Z3V you can read the info on this thread.

[racer0018]

The point of the post was someone from Sony to answer the question. Did sony make the firmware and send it to Verizon. Also why can't we unlock the bootloader like all the other sony phones. These are questions that I think people that have spent the money deserve answer instead of this endless questions and no one answers.

One is that sony is a big company and if they wanted to they could get Verizon to roll out the updates. Another thing is, why not make a z5 that will work with Verizon network. I got it that Verizon doesn't want it but maybe the consumers do want a Sony phone of Verizon network.

Could someone please post and say yes we made the updates for the phone. Yes we made the Android lollipop for the z3v and sent it to them. Yes we are going to make the marshmallow software and send it Verizon but it's up to them to send it to the phone. Yes we can unlock the bootloader for the z3v but Verizon won't allow us to do it. Why not just say the truth. Or maybe just say no we don't plan on making the marshmallow software for the phone. Just say the truth and then it will allow us to go the next level and see what can be done about this phone.

For one the phone can handle the software of lollipop and marshmallow but it's up to sony and or Verizon. I paid a lot of money for this phone and just would like so answers instead of read this and this and this, and it no where points to a answer. Thanks.

[Uliwooly]

@racer0018

This has been answered myriad times on other posts, Verizon, like any other network request the bootloader to be locked, this can not be unlocked at all, as the motherboard will have to be replaced, again, this is something that the network/Verizon requested and that will be up to them to assist you on this bootloader situation.

As for the software, Sony release the update and send it to carriers, but since this is a carrier specific variant, it will be up to Verizon to request/invest on future update releases, Sony can not release updates without the network request and approval, this is not going to be said by Verizon, as they don't want to upset and probably lose customers.

The phone its more than capable to run lollipop and marshmallow, since the Z3V its almost the same as the Z3 and the Z3 will get marshmallow, again, there are contracts between networks and OEMs and there's info than neither of them can release and/or made public. A reminder, the Xperia Z3V its only available with Verizon, so they, Verizon, have pretty much control on this phone. I urge you to contact them and request an official statement on this. 

I understand your frustration, I remember when AT&T had the Xperia X10 and the global unlocked phones got android 2.3.3 but some networks opt out, like AT&T, but the advantage with AT&T and T-mobile is that the phones are GSM not CDMA, which means that you can flash other firmwares and have the latest updates; on a side note, unlocking the bootloader won't help unless you are planning on running a Custom ROM. 

Last reminder, this is a user based forum, to get official statements, you will need to contact Sony directly >>> Local support