Firmware upgrade for your Mobiles

Firmware is a part of any hardware, which you use. Its the basic software part of the hardware. Your digital camera, micro woven, electronic calculator, watches all contains a software part which is called the firmware.

One of the device which you may use extensively would be your mobile phone. Just like any other interactive electronic device, your mobile phone too has its own firmware.

In short, firmware is like an OS to your phone. Therefore just like in your PC, Windows as an OS would need occasional update for addressing both security and performance issues, your phone manufacturers too issues update for your phone’s software or firmware !!

What exactly are you upgrading ??

Its the Phone’s inbuilt Software (OS / firmware) which is the software that is embedded in the memory of your device, and includes applications such as the calendar and phone book. This is similar to the operating system software on your PC. The update consists of new features, applications, and performance improvements to the software.

Why would you need an upgrade ??

Complex handsets require intelligent software to make them work. These software would require updates both to address their performance with new and upcoming software and hardware as well as to offer your security and new features.

Prerequisite before update !!

• Internet connection to download the updates
• PC with USB 2.0 support / Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista / 256 MB RAM
• Supported handset and connectivity cable
• Back up before starting the update process.
• Read the FAQs (Nokia / Sony / Motorola)

Where to find the PC software to update the firmware ?

• Nokia Global / Nokia India
• Sony Ericsson Update Service
• Motorola India

An example with Nokia 6233

Nokia 6233, released in year 2005 is a very successful model from the company. Though its almost 3 year old model but its still in production and well preferred world wide.

Obtaining the connectivity cable.

Most of the time, you mat find that your phone do not come with bundle data cable which allows it to get connected with PC. In this case Nokia 6233 supports CA-53 or CA-70 cable interface.

Though its not mandatory but still its recommended that you buy an original Nokia CA-53 cable. However having said that, I must point out, in India its not easy to obtain an original cable. Even I have heard many number of cases where nokia dealer them self are selling duplicated product at a price of original accessories.

The fact is I have seen the duplicate ones (Costing Rs. 100/-) works just fine.

Backing up the phone data

Before one can proceed, make sure you backup the phone date like, Contacts in phone book, images, music files and other data. Sony / Motorola all have PC sync software to do it. Where as in this case of Nokia 6233, I am using Nokia PC Suite.

One may download the PC suite via Nokia web site. Installation is pretty straight forward.

After installation, it would ask you to select an interface to get connected to your mobile, in my case I have Nokia 6233 with bluetooth and Lenovo 300 N200 notebook which comes with bluetooth as well.

I turn on the bluetooth (both in Mobile 6233 / Notebook or PC) and select the Bluetooth interface.

System would search and offer available devices in my case, my Nokia 6233 (which I have named Choto Cheeta).

Selecting it would offer you a default pass code which you need to pair the device with PC suite.

Your phone now would ask you to pair with the PC, in my case the 6233 asks me to pair with my notebook and asks for that passcode, which is in my case 123.

PC suite now would start, and in this case I want to take backup of my device so that I can restore after the firmware upgrade.

You may follow Nokia.com guided tour for the process of using PC suite to back up your data.

Downloading the Data cable Drivers

Please note, though your phone may support PC Sync via Bluetooth or Infrared connection interface however for Firmware upgrade you must have a Data Cable connection. In my case for my Nokia 6233 supported CA-53 Data cable drivers.

Obtaining the Firmware upgrade / Software upgrade tools.

You may download from our phone manufacturers web site. In my case I needed to download Nokia Phone software upgrade software.

Installation is quite straight forward.

Now before you start the phone software service, make sure any other PC to Phone Sync application is turned off, in my case I am in need to turn off the Nokia PC Suite.

Follow the instruction as it would advice you to back up all phone data before proceeding to the update process.

It would identify the connected phone model and would advice about latest available firmware version, therefore as it does, click update to start the flashing process. Make sure you have enough battery left in the phone to last the session and do not disconnect the phone or turn off the PC.

System would now download your update files and flash the phone firmware.