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Software Updates

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Feb 2, 2005, 7:00 PM   by Eric Lin

An in-depth look at all aspects of core software in phones, and the various ways it can be updated.

Part 1

A Tiny PC 

Your mobile phone is not all that different from your PC. It looks different, and acts different, but it shares many of the same components. They both have processors, memory and chipsets. On top of that, both have firmware (or BIOS, for you PC users), an operating system (OS), and even applications. Although smartphones have better publicized and more accessible operating systems and accompanying applications, all phones use them.

Operating systems lend the same strengths to mobile platforms that they do to desktops, but it stands to follow that they also suffer the same weaknesses. They are large and complicated, and just as with desktop OSes, they are sometimes released with a bug or two.

Most modern desktop systems include automatic updaters that check for new software versions automatically. Although they may be buggy like PCs, most phones cannot go out and check for software updates by themselves to fix those bugs. Often times the user must check to see what, if anything, is available should a problem arise. This guide should give you a good idea of whether potential problems are software-related, and what sort of update options are available now, as well as how technology is evolving to update future handsets.

What's Wrong? 

Other than problems which you might normally equate with OS bugs on your desktop (e.g. every time you press the camera button, the to-do list comes up instead), software problems are usually best identified by inconsistencies.

Sometimes inconsistent can mean the screen says one thing but performance indicates another. Examples: the phone shows no signal strength but calls can be made just fine, the battery indicator swings wildly or shows no movement until the battery is practically empty. Other times inconsistency is in the behavior, such as when the speaker volume is fine except for one particular function. The Siemens S65 suffered just this issue when it was launched last year. The speaker was excellent, however the in-call alert (for call waiting or received messages) was exceedingly loud, no matter what volume the speaker was set to. A software update reduced the volume to a normal level.

The source of performance bugs are not as easily determined. Sometimes they are hardware related, sometimes they are software related, and other times they are hardware related but can be corrected or compensated for with a software update. Battery life is one such mystery, there have been times when battery life has been improved with a software update, other times users are doomed to recharge often for as long as they own the phone. There are other similar issues, such as menu performance (the speed at which the phone responds to button presses), poor reception or even sound quality. As unlikely as the last two seem, there have been occasions when each could be improved with a software update.

Dirty Little Secret 

Although manufacturers have continually worked on software updates, and carriers have access to them, it is rare that either publicizes they exist. If a manufacturer advertises an update for a phone, it is essentially admitting it hit the store shelves in a less than perfect state, or worse, with an ugly bug. This situation is not as bad for carriers, as they could just blame the manufacturers.

However carriers have a different reason to avoid publicizing updates - typically they consider non-essential software upgrades too costly. If a carrier advertises a software upgrade for a certain model, or a whole family of phones, users would flood into carrier stores to have their phones updated. They would demand a significant amount of time and training from staff who the carriers would prefer to be selling new phones and contracts rather than dealing with old ones.

For example, In mid-2004, when Motorola and Nextel were made aware of a software problem affecting the aGPS in many of their newer phones. Breaking the traditional radio silence, they publicly informed subscribers of an available software update in monthly statements, on their website and beyond. Not only did they admit there was a problem, they urged subscribers to come into stores to have it fixed, or to download a patch themselves if they had a data cable. Unlike many software updates which are typically not critical, this fix was necessary for their subscribers' safety and for federal e911 compliance, justifying the exception.

Part 2

Bring it in 

Most handsets still need to be updated the old fashioned way - software has to be loaded onto the handset with special cables and equipment. For corporate and network security, manufacturers typically just sell this equipment to carriers or approved service centers, as well as maintaining it themselves.

Verizon, Sprint and Nextel all offer software updates for customers in their corporate stores. GSM operators typically leave updates up to the manufacturers. Nokia, Sony Ericsson Motorola and others will all update phones to the most recent available software at their service centers. While the carriers probably have a service center near you, manufacturers typically require that you send in your handset to their main service center for updates, often times with more than a week-long turn around.

To that end, independent service centers have popped up all over the US to update Nokia, Sony Ericsson or Motorola software. These agents have access to the same equipment and software versions as the manufacturers, and even if there's not one near you, they can usually turn your phone around quicker.

Over the Internet 

Some manufacturers have modified the update process slightly, substituting a PC and a synchronization cable for the specialized equipment used at service centers. Not only did this decrease the equipment cost, it also gave end users the ability to update their own phones.

The trend began when a few smartphone OS makers built PC software that would allow users to update their devices by themselves. Windows Mobile users can sometimes download updates from their carrier to install, as can PalmOne Treo users. Sony Ericsson also made downloadable updates available for UIQ smartphones, directly through their website.

In 2004 a few manufacturers opened up PC updates for selected non-smartphone models as well. Motorola allowed Nextel subscribers to update their own iDen phones from a PC, and Sony Ericsson extended their PC updates to new high end handsets like the K700 and S700. Sony Ericsson continues to add new models to their update service, however few other manufacturers are joining this trend.

Hack Away 

In addition to performing standard updates, many independent service centers will perform unlocking services, or in the case of Motorola and select few other handsets, customize software and FLEX (firmware) versions. Cults have grown up around this, and love to debate software versions here on our own forums, as well as on Howard Forums and Esato. They have used this to add new software features to different phones (by flashing Motorola V600 software onto a V400, for example) or even to re-activate carrier limited features (like adding a number of features back to the V710). Service centers and even manufacturer employees are often just as fascinated with this as enthusiastic users and will discuss or even show off their own homebrews from time to time.

For smartphones and other handsets that users can flash themselves using a PC, a huge hacker underground has developed. Windows Mobile enthusiasts have spent a great deal of time picking apart customized installs and software updates to create software packages for users to add features or software to their devices no matter what they initially came with.

Others are exploiting these abilities taking the lazyweb approach. They are offering bounties for certain hacks. The best known recent examples have been the bounty to re-add the object exchange (OBEX) Bluetooth profile to crippled Motorola V710s, which resulted in additional Bluetooth support but not for the OBEX profile, and the efforts to add support for SDIO Wi-Fi cards to the PalmOne Treo 600, which was unsuccessful.

It's Automatic 

The newest method for updating phones doesn't require expensive equipment, or even PCs - the new software is sent over the cellular network, or over the air (OTA), directly to mobile phones. While similar to preferred roaming lists (PRL) and other updates that carriers have been sending to CDMA phones and GSM SIM chips for years, OTA updates actually make changes to the phone's software, not just its settings. Although the term software is also used for applications that you can download from your carrier to your phone, in this case it refers to the operating system or other software that is a permanent part of the phone's memory.

Danger led the way, providing automatic, OTA updates for the Hiptop; and now similar technology will probably define how we get software updates for the foreseeable future. Sprint is the first US operator to launch OTA updates for their lineup. They are initially launching this feature on a handful of phones, but will include it on nearly all the phones they launch in the future. The first handsets capable of OTA updates from Sprint are the Samsung VI660, VM-A680, MM-A700, PM-A740 and RL-A760 as well as the Sanyo MM-7400 and LG PM-325.

Sprint is not alone, in fact it belongs to the OTA Flash Forum, a group of many carriers and manufacturers devoted to creating a standard for updating software over the air. Currently a number of solutions from different manufacturers, as well as different back-end server vendors exist. No carrier can afford or wants to maintain a different server for every different manufacturer they carry. Worse, no manufacturer wants to have to produce a different software version for different upgrade servers. After all, the whole point of OTA updates is to simplify upgrades. The Flash Forum is working together to develop a single standard which all parties can live with, so that any phone can be updated from any server the carrier chooses.

Many American carriers are members in the OTA Flash Forum, including Sprint, T-Mobile USA and smaller carriers like Alltel and US Cellular. However a carrier does not have to be a member in order to use OTA technology, just to help define the standard. In fact, Verizon has admitted on many occasions they are also evaluating OTA technologies although they have not committed to one.

With the support of so many major carriers and manufacturers, it's likely that some form of this technology will be present on all handsets in the near future. Even if a particular carrier hasn't warmed up to the idea, chances are the manufacturers will have built the technology into their handsets, giving the carriers a push to join the OTA club. It won't be ubiquitous in 2005, but it won't be long before phones of all types will be informing their owners that new updates are ready to install.

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Comments

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This forum is closed.

pfox

Jun 26, 2005, 10:37 AM

Motorola T720

I bought a Motorola T720 off ebay to use with Alltel and although it has Brew shop on it, I cannot access Alltell's Axcess shop to download ringtones. I was wondering if I needed a firmware update to be able to do this and if so, where do I take my phone to update the firmware. I took it to Alltell but they were not able to do this. Thanks.
shackguy

Feb 27, 2005, 11:50 AM

710...

I'm' looking to get a 710 but I've been waiting for someone to find a way to "un-cripple" the bluetooth capabilities. Any recommened sites or methods to do so?
http://www.inetron.com »

There are a number of tutorials and alot of pictures and ringers to put on a transflash card and use on your V710
hatoncat

Feb 5, 2005, 4:59 AM

Hence, The Firmware Trackers

Over on Sprint PCS Info, we saw this problem since day one. We have the only firmware trackers that track every phone released on every carrier, for exactly this reason; the more people know, the more the carriers will realize firmware is not something that just can be fixed by selling a new phone.

AT&T:
http://sprintpcsinfo.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa ... »

Cingular:
http://sprintpcsinfo.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa ... »

Verizon:
http://sprintpcsinfo.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa ... »

Sprint:
http://sprintpcsinfo.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa ... »


Sprint has caught wind of this trend, and actually started their own firmware tracker (of course, for only for their 3G-d...
(continues)
Yep, and it's an excellent resource! Keep up the good work, Hat! 🙂
...
allbulls

Feb 7, 2005, 9:53 PM

Hey Rich LOOK @ THIS

🙂 🙂 New Audiovox 9200. This is great!!!!It is cute, small and compact. I prefer this phone over the 8910. I can't wait for it to come out. Does anybody know when this phone is coming out for verizon?


Can you answer some of these questions it was mentioned in the CES 2005 article.
ANYONE CAN ANSWER TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
This is completely off-topic.

Do you have anything to share about software updates for phones? 🙂
...
yhoungs

Feb 8, 2005, 8:35 AM

question.....

Dear,

I need your answer. pls... I have a sony ericsson z500a brand of a cellphone..

I just ordered a new z500a phone that I will need to get unlocked. I currently have a att plan and the phone is locked to cingular. I have searched the internet but wasnt able to come up with any codes to unlock the phone. So what I need to know is what would be the best and easiest way for me to go about unlocking my phone. I am located in Philippines ..if anybody knows anywhere in this are where I can get help with this phone i would greatly appreciate it...

and also I ask if i use this phone here in davao Philippines... and when is the released of sony ericsson z500a model here in philippines./..

waiting for your imediate reply...

youngs......
(continues)
I have found some unlock codes on E-Bay for a few dollars just be carefull my buddy got ripped off
...
Rich Brome

Feb 5, 2005, 2:57 AM

Another good example - MPx220 update

Here's a good example of a sanctioned user-installable update - version 1.3 of the ROM for the MPx220:

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.p ... »
corporate

Feb 4, 2005, 10:23 PM

RIM Updates

RIM makes it incredibly easy to update the firmware on their handsets, I think every high end phone should be user-updateable via USB (or some other cable)!
sfinaki2000

Feb 4, 2005, 5:40 PM

PM-325

I have Sprint service and recently updated my LG PM-325 automatically over the air and it was wonderful. The update solved a problem with sending pictures from the camera and also sped up running through my menu functions.
 
 
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