The 4.2 device update is out for Telus Mobility (4.2.1.110). This will work on any carrier's CDMA 8703 Handheld device.

Pkg Ver: 4.2.1.184
App Ver: 4.2.1.110
Plt Ver: 2.3.0.22

Download here.

Instructions for installing on any 8703 from any carrier:


1. Make sure you have the latest version of Desktop Manager installed. It's 4.2 SP2 and can be downloaded from the link above or Click Here. or from the Verizon site linked above.
2. Download the above file to the PC then install it to the PC by running the file you downloaded.
3. Locate the vendor.xml file and delete it. It's located in c:\program files\common files\research in motion\apploader
4. Plug in BB and Open Desktop Manager. You should be prompted to upgrade.
The process takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have to backup and restore during the process. Once it's done loading the new OS it will reboot (it may do this twice during the entire process.) You will see a white screen with an hourglass for up to 20 minutes at a time while the DM says "waiting for initialization."
If you end up with a white screen with small icons and the number 507, simply connect to DM again and run application loader again and it should load the OS to the device.



Craig

Good find. Downloading now.

Let us know how it goes. I just got rid of my 8703 for a 8830. Just my luck.

Craig

sweet glad to see this come out will test also and let this thread know

I just finished loading it...a whole ton of Media stuff is now available -- probably brings it up to date with the rest of the 4.2 world! Pictures for contacts, a whole media file system for pictures and sounds, and more. I'm still investigating, but so far it looks really nice.

just finished the dl going for install now

im not the most savvy blackberry guy around, but i do want to get the 4.2 version so i can load some other apps, primarily the new facebook. i have verizon 8703e, BIS. how do i go about doing this? can you do it OTA? and where would i link to get this? please advise - thanks!

do you think because verizon and sprint are both cdma this 4.2 would work or do they have to release a completely different one?

should I have had sprints software on mine for a while now

whoa whoa how did you get 4.2 for your 8700e on sprint? That's what I have and I have been waiting to get a 4.2 OS for a while now, but haven't heard anything.

looks pretty good to me, picture caller id and other media is present. some of my old themes no longer work but that's no surprise,

Anyone have a number to download with?

I had sprints 4.1 is what i was talking about. But this 4.2 should work on sprint just delete the vender file

Nevermind:
old number (978505000) didn't work, so I tried 9785050012 and she's good

glad you got it to work

what do you mean delete the vendor file. I am a new to blackberrys and I don't really know what that means sorry. I just really want 4.2 OS can always confirm this would work on sprint?

OK, so whoopee. I've installed 4.2 on my VZW 8703e, and it hasn't changed my life yet. Did I do something wrong?



Oh, yeah . . . there it is. Ringtones and Wallpaper without a browser or email kludge. Now my life is complete.

Nice find! Stuck thread and added instructions and download links, etc.

Installed 4.2 into my VZW 8703e this afternoon.

1. Device seems more sluggish when doing things like selecting applications, etc.

2. New Applications icon, which takes you to another Applications screen. This contains things like Gmail and other Google Services items, Blackberry Maps, Calculator, Beyond411, Quicknote, BBLight, Brickerbreaker (some of these are aftermarket items I already had, obviously). I don't like this setup - it now takes one more step to get to these applications.

3. New Media icon, which takes you to the Media screen (Ringtones and Pictures). You can now receive these things via Bluetooth. You can now go into media options and see what the file size is for each tone, picture, etc.
I see that my device has a 12MB memory limit.

4. New Tools icon, which takes you to the Tools screen, which contains Taks, MemoPad, Password Keeper, and Help.

5. New Settings icon, which takes you to the Settings screen, which contains E-mail Settings, Alarm, Screen/Keyboard, Mobile Network, Options, Set-up Bluetooth, and Turn Wireless Off.

6. Profiles menu looks different, and includes an Advanced menu choice, which takes you into the standard profile editor. Again, another step to impede you.

7. On the Verizon theme's red banner bar at the top (home screen), where the signal strength, battery level, Bluetooth, EVDO, and other indicators are, it sure looks like they've bumped up the font size of the day/date/time. Not alot, mind you, but at least it's a noticeable increase (unless I'm seeing things). If this is the case, I like it. I wish I could make it even bigger. (Maybe there's a way; I'm not done exploring.)

8. When the device locks, the Owner Info is now displayed in much smaller font. I don't know why they'd do this. I can't figure out if it's adjustable or not. Whatever...

9. In the Status screen (via options, or by simply pushing ALT, CAP, H in succession), the battery strength indicates 100%, but the battery level icon on the home screen shows 3/4 full. What's with this? I'll charge fully again and see what happens.

10. Some of the Blackberry ringtones, notifiers, alarms, etc. have changed. Some tones are gone, replaced by some new ones.

That's all I've noticed so far. I'm sure I'll discover other things, too. All in all, I don't see anything truly amazing. Perhaps I'm missing something. Others will certainly discover other items.

One new minor improvement: you don't have to "wake it up" to enter your password (assuming you lock your BB with a password). Even if the screen is dark, you can type the password and hit the enter key and the BB will unlock.

I'd love to put this on my Sprint 8703e (previously use 4.2.x on T-Mobile 8700g), but, I don't have a Verizon phone number to use.

Wirelessly posted (8703e: BlackBerry8703e/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Great!

Now, please tell me how to get 'ToDoMatrix' back on the friggin main page.

-simpson

Well, I loaded this up on my Sprint 8703e and now the built-in GPS is crippled just like on Verizon's 8703e. I tried turning GPS on in BBRY Maps and it says that I "Must pair my BlackBerry with a Bluetooth Enabled GPS device".

Something strange that also happened is now my IT policy will no longer allow me to download third party apps.

I am bummed :( I guess that's the price I pay for trying an OS from Verizon.

If anyone has any ideas how to get around the GPS problem, I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Go to Options >Advanced Options >GPS and make sure your GPS Source is set to "internal."

Ah, ok. I didn't see that option. I just found out when I attempted to download some updated apps that my employer started blocking the installation of 3rd party Apps. I was able to download stuff last week, so I'm kind of bummed :(

Anyway, I wiped my device, installed the blank IT policy that can be found in the FAQ, then proceeded to delete BBRY maps. I then resent my service books through the Sprint BIS site and was then able to get many of my Applications updated from older versions OTA. I got everything I wanted installed, then connected up over VPN with BBRY Desktop Manager and got the Enterprise Activation completed.

All is now well and BBRY Maps works perfectly!

does anyone have a today style theme that works with this load?

try using the zen theme and see if it works better for you

My users love the Send Voice Message capability in BB Messenger. That's one of the features I've loved in my 8830.

Updated last night,...

1. Had to re-install Splash ID, the install screwed up the data file.

2. Had to re-install Viigo also.

3. This morning, noticed that the extended battery that use to go 4-5 days before upgrade is already down to 90% since this morning.

Anyone notice a quicker battery drain?

Re Battery Drain,
I have the Seido extended capacity battery on my VZW 8703e. Yesterday, after installing 4.2, the indicator shows 3/4 full, despite a complete charge last night. The status screen currently indicates 95% battery capacity.

This is but one of several "issues" that 4.2 brings to the table. I'm not terribly impressed with the "upgrade" so far. I'm about to reinstall 4.1.

Is it better to wipe the device and then install 4.2 or just install it with what you already have on there?

Neither option is better.
It's a matter of personal preference and comfort.
Some users wipe the handheld prior to upgrading... and some don't.
The important thing to remember is that wiping prior to an OS upgrade is NOT a necessary step, contrary to what some users here will tell you.

Does anyone know if the new OS enables voice dialing with the Verizon 8703e?

Thank you!

Nothing found re Voice Dialing. I seriously doubt it.

If you are upgrading a Verizon branded device, does deleting the vendor.xml give you anything else during the load (such as more themes to the device)?

does anyone know if you need to re-activate on the BES server after an OS upgrade?

Thanks

Finally lol

So I loaded this...definately worth the upgrade. As for slowness, none that I can tell except the menu for app's, takes a extra second to come up. Otherwise, going from different apps or in them, I dont see a difference.