Cell C customers with the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone have had to wait for popular messaging app WhatsApp to become available on their device, since BlackBerry announced its availability last week.
This is due to a delay in the operator pushing the updated version of BlackBerry 10 software, which - once downloaded - makes WhatsApp available. The update also makes various improvements, including better battery life.
Cell C says it has now completed testing of the latest software update (version 10.0.10.99) for the Z10, which will be made available to its customers "early this week".
Teething problems
BlackBerry announced the availability of a native version of WhatsApp for BlackBerry 10 last week, about six weeks after the official launch and unveiling of the flagship smartphone on its new operating system, the Z10.
WhatsApp, a popular cross-platform instant messaging (IM) application that has grown to rival BlackBerry's own service, BlackBerry Messenger, was initially not on the table for BlackBerry 10, according to a WhatsApp representative. However, at the official BlackBerry 10 launch at the end of January, BlackBerry said WhatsApp had confirmed it would support the new platform.
Last Thursday, soon after BlackBerry finally announced WhatsApp was indeed available, a number of Z10 users took to Twitter to say they were having problems downloading the app.
Some said the app was not visible in BlackBerry World, while other users said an error message popped up when trying to install it. At the time the issues were accepted as teething problems and an inevitable delay, as it commonly takes some time for the app to appear in BlackBerry World for all regions.
Alternative means
While most of the initial complaints died down within hours, Cell C users were still reporting that WhatsApp was not available from BlackBerry World. Searching for software updates showed the latest software was installed, but the necessary upgrade was absent.
After about a day with no joy, some users resorted to using other networks' SIM cards in order to download the software upgrade, before returning their Cell C SIM and downloading the app.
However Cell C advises its Z10 users to wait for the upgrade to become available through their own network, rather than use other networks' SIMs. "We strongly advise customers to only use the Cell C update as the software has been approved by the company to meet Cell C's standards. This is to ensure a good user experience."
Once the software upgrade has been pushed, says Cell C, the update should display in the BlackBerry Hub. "Alternatively they can manually process the update by going to into their settings and checking for a software update."
The BlackBerry 10 software upgrade was pushed by both Vodacom and MTN last week. Telkom's mobile arm 8ta had not responded by the time of publication.
Update: 8ta says its technicians are still in the process of testing the new BlackBerry 10 firmware, and the software update will be available to its Z10 customers by the end of the week.
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