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Automatic Firmware Updates Coming Soon |
deepsme
Joined: Mar 30, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: New Delhi, India
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The Open Mobile Alliance has published its Firmware Update Management Object (FUMO): a standard which allows mobile phones to be updated over the air - from fixing a spelling mistake to changing the whole OS, all without bothering the user at all.
For all the complaints about Windows Update, there is value in the distributor of an operating system being able to issue updates, and few users are actually capable of installing those updates, even when prompted to do so. Windows Update has probably prevented more problems than it’s caused. While some people want comprehensive control over updates and patches, the majority just want security and functionality improvements to happen when they’re not looking.
But enabling the same kind of functionality on mobile phones has proved a great deal more complicated. The lack of space to store a complete backup, and the relatively slow connectivity, has required that patches and upgrades need a visit to an approved service centre: a strange limitation for a networked device. The operating system on an embedded device, such as a mobile phone, is considered neither hard nor soft ware: so is known as “firmware”, and Nokia&'s recent decision to allow customers to upgrade their firmware at home reflects improvements in roll-back technologies and increased confidence in the stability of updates issued. But performing such an upgrade over the air is a big step from doing so over a normal USB cable.
Few companies are hawking technologies for distributing firmware upgrades, but network operators won’t buy the servers until the handsets support the technology; and no handset will support the technology until the servers are in place. Operators have been very reluctant to support proprietary technologies for fear of having multiple platforms running, and being locked into a specific supplier. So without an industry standard the technology has been stalled.
Now the standard has been published testing can start, which will begin in September. So some time next year we can expect to see handsets updating their firmwares automatically.
Assuming FUMA is used to fix instabilities and issue critical security updates then it seems unlikely anyone out there will mind.
Source
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[ This Message was edited by: deepsme on 2006-08-29 01:59 ] | |
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slugworth
Joined: Jul 19, 2006
Posts: 400
From: UK
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OTA would use GPRS or 3G correct?
well in the uk that aint cheep £2.49+ per MB so an OS is say 11mb well thats alot of money to update OTA.
Also most updates require a reboot well if its updating in the backround and say ur on the phone and the phone reboots halfway through a phone call you aint gonna be impressed, also dont phones require a flash? well SEUS tells you to enter flash mode to update the phone so the phone is rendered usless for the duration of the update...
Tbh most users dont care about FW updates for phones (adverage user) so this seems like another waste of time/money/resorces IMO
 S500i 4GB M2 |
deepsme
Joined: Mar 30, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: New Delhi, India
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Quote:
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On 2006-08-29 03:15:39, slugworth wrote:
OTA would use GPRS or 3G correct?
well in the uk that aint cheep £2.49+ per MB so an OS is say 11mb well thats alot of money to update OTA.
Also most updates require a reboot well if its updating in the backround and say ur on the phone and the phone reboots halfway through a phone call you aint gonna be impressed, also dont phones require a flash? well SEUS tells you to enter flash mode to update the phone so the phone is rendered usless for the duration of the update...
Tbh most users dont care about FW updates for phones (adverage user) so this seems like another waste of time/money/resorces IMO
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Well as the article says the r&d is yet to begin on this,and some points you put there are very valid.Like the issue of rebooting,i think just like windows if we have the option to download the updates and install them later then that could prove useful. So whenever we hve got the time to leave the phone alone we could do with updating it at such a time.
The issue of cost well that mostly depends on the operator,and i think it would be good if the phone companies can tie-up with the networks to provide free software upgrades.
But your point about people not caring about FW upgrades,mate what are you saying??This forum is overflowing FW related topics,and i think after cell phones, firmware upgrades hold the interest of the users the most.
So imo i don't really agree OTA is a total waste,i personally and i think many other cellphone users would greatly benefit with the option to upgrade their FW's automatically.
here, have a puff  |
slugworth
Joined: Jul 19, 2006
Posts: 400
From: UK
PM |
when i say FW upgrades i ment to the basic phone user not to people who want max performance out of there phone like for example my mum or dad or brother dont care about software updates or most of my other fellow friends and family but they are nokia samsung and moto users lol
S500i 4GB M2 | |
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Posted: 2006-08-29 02:54
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