Well according to HTC (CLICKY), Android 2.2 is available for the HTC Desire via an Over The Air Update.
However when I go to Settings -> About Phone -> system software updates -> check now, no update can be found.
Slightly annoying, but also puzzling. I'm on Vodafone. If my phone checks them rather than HTC for updates, why didn't it find that spamware update that everyone's been talking about recently. If it checks HTC, why hasn't it found Android 2.2 update.
I've emailed HTC for advice, but I really don't want to have to deal with Vodafone on this issue. I'm hoping that because I got my phone when it was first released, the phones were rushed out before Vodafone got chance to mess with the firmware.

Vodafone Twitter/forum support is much, much better than 'phone support, might be worth sending a tweet and asking.

Well I got a reply from HTC.
Apparently as it's a Vodafone supplied phone it'll be set only to get their updates rather than the generic HTC ones.
That leaves me with three choices.
1) Stick with 2.1 and do without Flash etc.
2) Get 2.2 from Vodafone and get loads of unwanted, undeletable spamware etc
3) Try following internet guides and updating the firmware by hand invalidating the warranty.

The problem is I don't like any of those ideas. I'll wait and see other peoples comments about how bad the spamware is on 2.2. You never know, maybe Vodafone learned their lesson (doubt it). I'll probably end up sticking with 2.1.

Yeah I had a feeling that would be the case. HTC released the upgrade (2.1) for the Hero a while ago, AFAIK T-Mobile users are still waiting.

Good news. Vodafone say there'll be no spamware in their first release of 2.2
CLICKY

sweet