We don't have access to the firmware in any of the ECUs, including the TBOX (Telematics). It's also doubtful that MG would sell a TBOX to us for reasonable money. So I think for existing models, OVMS is the best and only way to go. But the people developing that have hit some snags, and progress has been very slow of late.
So all around, it's not great news for people with the existing models that want an app. With the second hand market like it is, upgrading starts to look pretty darned tempting.
I was wondering if and when the facelift model would make it to Australia and other markets. But it seems to me that they'll likely never make any of the existing models again, so we should get the new ones when stock runs out here. We'll likely be a few months behind, because Australia remains such an EV backwater, but I can wait.
Edit: the other thing about the TBOX is that it requires support from a server somewhere, I believe. MG are not going to give away or sell at a reasonable price server resources to old customers, I suspect.