It is very much a Vodafone issue!
Vodafone kindly hold back all updates untill they have completed some mysterious testing process that does nothing but waste time and ###### off customers!
If you just got your phone send it back!, go to Carphone Warehouse and get a Nexus S, that way you wont be tied to Vodafone and will always be running the latest software!
Aparently they must test the update before they can allow it to run on their network.
In my opinion it's a load of rubbish! Google obviously feel it is ready to be released and have obviously tested it why do Vodafone feel the need to test it as well? Do they not trust Google, obviously not! I'm sure they are quick enough to blame when a bug is found!
Vodafone released froyo about a week after Google.
I believe this may only have been due to the huge number of complaints from customers at the time.
Given Vodafones ######up previously, I would think most people have moved away from the Vodafone firmware and installed the generic google version hence will already have the update.
Problem is if you do that vodafone will void your warranty and hence you will have no support. HTC will still honour their warranty though so there is a fallback there.
Unfortunatly my company pays for my phone so i cannot go down that route or i would have done it months ago, cannot wait to move away from Vodafone software.
Not sure what your position is regarding warranty as it's a replacement handset i'm not sure what cover you would have from HTC if something did go wrong.
All the info you need is in this thread
http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Google-Nexus/Nexus-
Hi just had to put my bit in 
Good old Vodafone not passing on updates with the (we must test it BUL###T) my broadband supplier lets me download
Microsoft up dates with out testing it first !!
I have sed this all before the first network proovider that is stock Android with NO blocking updates
will win.
I have one year left with Vodafone and if it's still blocking up dates then thats it I AM OFF for good.
No point ringing up the SCRIPT readers wast of time.
Glyn
the funny thing is, all networks will do this. Have you ever thought that Vodafone have identified a problem with the OS that fails its testing and as such has been sent back to Google to confirm?
Or that Vodafone have actually passed the testing on the firmware but Google/HTC have not released the update for general release yet? Until we are in the position where we truly know what goes on in those situations which i believe any network will not divulge to prevent raised hopes and dissapointment when firmware is not released then there is no point complaining.
If you want a device that is unlocked then you will either need to purchase via a CPW/best buy/P4U or buy it SIM Free from another source such as expansys. I do not see any network removing any branding in the future (and why should they?) the networks subsidise the handsets by such a considerable amount the least they can do is put some network branding on the devices or personalise the firmware to their requirements.
So in short - the firmware will be out when it's out, if you want them when the manufacturers release them then buy a SIM free option directly from them. Or continue to buy them from the networks with branding and wait until the 2 stage testing is complete and firmware released by the manufacturer to us 
.
I cant say i have ever had a problem on orange/Vodafone/one2one(t-mobile) with branding and from what i can tell Vodafone brand there devices even less now, in-fact some Vodafone branded variants of devices have been better than the sim free variants in the past.
@jebelious Having an iPhone you don't have the problem of delays, you get updates when apple releases them, could you image how
###### off apple would be if the networks decided to block kany update?
Apple have teh correct strategy, release for everyone at the same time with next to no carrier interfearing!
The main issue the the NexusOne lies with the fact that Vodafone initially sold it as completely unbranded with no interference from them, couple month later and they start messing around with it, blatant lie to their cutomers who are now stuck for the next year.
When i upgrade my handset i will be buying sim free from CPW or the like, ill then just use VF for a sim only tarriff.
If the networks/manufacturer were more transparent about the process i think people may accept it more. As ive said before they dont need to give release dates or anything just let users know that something is going on!
