Nokia Software Update ratified
Published by Steve Litchfield at 9:19 UTC, March 7th 2007
Nokia has announced that Nokia Software Update is now available from many Nokia local support web pages and that it's also now available in almost 40 languages. So far, over three quarters of a million people have updated their Nokia smartphone using the service. Kudos to their NSU team. Read on for the Nokia press release.
Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced that the Nokia Software Updater application is now available from selected Nokia local support web pages as well as http://www.nokia.com/softwareupdate. After a successful trial run last year, Nokia is expanding the program to enable people to update their own mobile device software without having to visit a service point. So far, over three quarters of a million people have updated their Nokia device using Nokia Software Updater.
"As mobile devices become more intelligent, software updates make it possible for us to provide a better experience for people by adding and updating functions," said Jarkko Sakki, Director, Multimedia Customer Care, Nokia. "For example, the recent software update for the Nokia N80 added support for internet calls. The Nokia Software Updater can make it fast and easy for people to get the latest software for their compatible Nokia device. As mobile devices become more like computers in terms of performance, it's a natural step for us to offer internet based software updates so that people can have the best available capabilities in their Nokia device."
Nokia Software Updater is a free application that enables people to update the device software on compatible Nokia devices, including some of the world's best selling 3G devices such as the Nokia N70, Nokia N73 and Nokia E61. Initially available only in English, the Nokia Software Updater is now available in almost 40 different langugages. The link to Nokia Software Updater is also available in the most recent versions of Nokia PC Suite software.
Once the application is installed on a compatible computer, users can connect their compatible Nokia device via a USB cable and Nokia Software Updater automatically detects the device type, and whether any required software updates are needed and it then guides users through the updating process.
Categories: Hardware, Miscellaneous, Links of Interest
Platforms: Series 60, General, S60 3rd Edition
News Discussion
krisse
750,000 isn't that many by Nokia standards, they sell literally a million phones every day.
It's great that they're offering this service though, I suppose most people just don't know about it and probably don't even know what firmware is. It's not like any manuals for electronics products ever mention firmware.
The "killer app" of firmware will possibly be OTA updates. Are there any Nokia devices that even support OTA updates yet?
It's great that they're offering this service though, I suppose most people just don't know about it and probably don't even know what firmware is. It's not like any manuals for electronics products ever mention firmware.
The "killer app" of firmware will possibly be OTA updates. Are there any Nokia devices that even support OTA updates yet?
elp
It's not even that most people don't know about it but really that they couldn't care less about it.
No matter how manufacturers try to pack more and more features into their phones, the fact is that the vast majority of people out there just want a phone that they can use to make phone calls, send texts and maybe take a few drunken pictures with. If their phone lets them do that, then it's fine. If it doesn't work properly then they'll bitch about how crap the phone is and buy another brand next time. End of story.
Automatic OTA updates could help here but only if it's fully automatic, doesn't break any of the phone's features and of course doesn't delete any data on the phone. In other words, it won't happen any time soon judging by how messy the current firmware update process is (wipes all your phone's data, breaks dozens of applications on the phone - see the firmware v2 on the E61 which caused keyboard shortcuts to stop working in most applications including built-in ones - and even destroys your phone - see the E70 firmware update debacle).
For us geeks though, tiny minority of users, firmware upgrades are essential and i'm glad Nokia finally offers this service.
No matter how manufacturers try to pack more and more features into their phones, the fact is that the vast majority of people out there just want a phone that they can use to make phone calls, send texts and maybe take a few drunken pictures with. If their phone lets them do that, then it's fine. If it doesn't work properly then they'll bitch about how crap the phone is and buy another brand next time. End of story.
Automatic OTA updates could help here but only if it's fully automatic, doesn't break any of the phone's features and of course doesn't delete any data on the phone. In other words, it won't happen any time soon judging by how messy the current firmware update process is (wipes all your phone's data, breaks dozens of applications on the phone - see the firmware v2 on the E61 which caused keyboard shortcuts to stop working in most applications including built-in ones - and even destroys your phone - see the E70 firmware update debacle).
For us geeks though, tiny minority of users, firmware upgrades are essential and i'm glad Nokia finally offers this service.
krisse
"No matter how manufacturers try to pack more and more features into their phones, the fact is that the vast majority of people out there just want a phone that they can use to make phone calls,"
I could be wrong, but AFAIK most firmware updates are to do with making sure the existing features work properly rather than adding new features.
If a firmware update reduces the chances of your phone crashing, it's probably something that everyone would want. :-)
Most of the times I've had to take a phone in for repairs, the fix has been to flash the new firmware, so I assume regular updates by me at home would have prevented most of these breakdowns happening in the first place.
You're right about automatic being the way to go, and it probably is possible although like you say the flashing process still needs work if that's to happen.
I could be wrong, but AFAIK most firmware updates are to do with making sure the existing features work properly rather than adding new features.
If a firmware update reduces the chances of your phone crashing, it's probably something that everyone would want. :-)
Most of the times I've had to take a phone in for repairs, the fix has been to flash the new firmware, so I assume regular updates by me at home would have prevented most of these breakdowns happening in the first place.
You're right about automatic being the way to go, and it probably is possible although like you say the flashing process still needs work if that's to happen.
2more
Quote:
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Originally Posted by krisse
Are there any Nokia devices that even support OTA updates yet?
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Unregistered
Actaully the N80 has FOTA, but it would be nice if Nokia adds this the entire N- and E series.
Terry1100
It would also be nice if the system would let users over-ride the operator limitations of firmware upgrades.
As far as Vodafone (in the UK) is concerned (and therefore the NSU), my E70 is "current" but I know I could benfit from faster orientation switching and better memory handling in Web. But with no propmotion of the handstet form Vodafone there are presumably only a (relative) handful of users - and therefore no "drive" to validate/verify/authorise (or whatever they do) the update.
Talking to Vodafone tech support is a waste of time - they don't understand the question - and don't respond to e-mails that are "too difficult"
As far as Vodafone (in the UK) is concerned (and therefore the NSU), my E70 is "current" but I know I could benfit from faster orientation switching and better memory handling in Web. But with no propmotion of the handstet form Vodafone there are presumably only a (relative) handful of users - and therefore no "drive" to validate/verify/authorise (or whatever they do) the update.
Talking to Vodafone tech support is a waste of time - they don't understand the question - and don't respond to e-mails that are "too difficult"
Unregistered
Launch the application, see the nice logo.. and NOTHING happens!!
Unregistered
Nokia Software Updater ver 1.3.20 NOT working since a few weeks ago. If the idea of chewing CPU time and just display the logo - you have done it!!
Please FIX the problem, as many of your customers are screaming!!
Please FIX the problem, as many of your customers are screaming!!