Sony Ericsson Firmware Update kiosks for stores
20 February 2007 by axxxr Sony Ericsson is readying a series of multimedia kiosks that it hopes will save operators, retailers and users time and money when it comes to fixing common phone faults.
A common remedy for mobile phone performance problems is to update the firmware (the basic operating software coded into a semipermanent memory such as flash). However, this usually involves sending phones back to a service center, a process that takes several days at best. Sony Ericsson wants to simplify the update process by letting customers update their own phones at multimedia kiosks installed in busy stores. The cylindrical kiosks, about 0.5 meters wide and 1.5 meters tall, contain a small PC and feature a touch-sensitive flat-panel display and a docking cradle for a mobile phone. Customers will be able to slot their phone into the cradle after first removing the SIM card, then follow the on-screen prompts to update the firmware. The process will take about seven minutes, Sony Ericsson staff said. The kiosk's computer will also contain a variety of multimedia content that customers can consult while their phone is being updated, and at other times the screen can display promotional messages, either for Sony Ericsson phones or for the store hosting the kiosk, according to Jesper Lykking, who is responsible for service portfolio management at Sony Ericsson. The kiosks are relatively expensive a few thousand euros,so they won't appear in every store stocking Sony Ericsson phones.Thirty are ready,10 of them in the U.S.,and a few hundred will be built, in all. One will be placed in each Sony Ericsson national sales office around Europe,The first in-store kiosk should appear in France around the end of the quarter. The company is still keen to cut the cost of firmware upgrades at other points of sale, but it has another trick in store for them: it aims to put a kit consisting of a cradle and a software CD in a few thousand stores, so that a standard PC can perform the upgrade. Sony Ericsson has already tested the program, which it calls Update Service Pro, in the A1 store chain of network operator Mobilkom Austria AG & Co. KG. Last year the chain performed about 1,500 updates across its 39 stores, Sony Ericsson said. source:infoworld
Comments On 15 Mar 23:33 HiGoodsitesThankshtt wrote On 11 Mar 15:31 HiGoodSitesThnakForG wrote On 20 Feb 17:24 dragoneye wrote dogmann, as with you SE using us as beta-testers on UIQ3 had me quite annoyed.. but i don't think having a kiosk to update your phones is such a bad thing. This reaches out to more people that may not know how to update their phone online. Having said that... i think SE's non-smartphone line up has been performing remarkablely well and is truly offering great value and features... over it's competitors and that shows in the numbers. On 20 Feb 17:13 Dogmann wrote @Dragon Eye, Believe it or not i am not bitter i am just appalled and extremely disappointed at what has happened to a once great company whose products i both once loved and respected has become. Only a blind man or a fool can not see what is in front of him and ignore and excuse all the faults. But any one that continues to ignore the multitude of problems across the range of handsets just because they love SE is just ridiculous IMO. But hey its your guys money you spend it how you like and are welcome to accept what you get as it's your choice just not for me any longer. Marc On 20 Feb 16:58 dragoneye wrote lol dogmann you are beyond bitter now...having media centre kisoks to update would be a great idea.. regardless of bugs firmwares are always updated and improved upon.. every manufacturer has an update tool now and se is just taking it to the next step.. nothing wrong with that.. On 20 Feb 14:47 Residentevil wrote I just hope there will be one fairly close by for me here in the US. On 20 Feb 12:33 antichrist wrote i hope in 6 years will appear something like this in romania.... On 20 Feb 09:23 Borobodits wrote Nice move SE!!! On 20 Feb 09:09 Flyinghellfish wrote The artikel states that Mobilkom Autria uses this service for a year now. I tried to update my p990i in Mobilkom Austira stores three times. But they were unable to do the update! On 20 Feb 07:42 Ashlar wrote Love this! I hope they'd set up kiosks in Manila as well. But I'm betting Singapore or Hong Kong gets first dibs. Oh well, rich countries always get it first I suppose. On 20 Feb 06:06 andre wrote this is a great idea On 20 Feb 05:51 Nick wrote Excellent idea. On 20 Feb 04:25 jack77777 wrote Sony ericsson just keep getting better and better :) On 20 Feb 04:05 maswina wrote this is what i call inovation. it'll reduce greatly the line in the service centre.. On 20 Feb 03:53 Dogmann wrote This is just ridiculous its like saying we make crap phones so we are going to try and make it easier for you to fix them. Just fffing release good stable handsets and there should be very little need for this bull. If and when i need a firmware upgrade i take to a Nokia service centre and depending on how busy they are have it back in a couple of hours max or do it at home. What are they saying SEUS which has been around for ages is also crap now and what is this it takes days rubbish. If they want to improve customer service and satisfaction release a finished product not a work in progress this the worst attempt at positive spin i have ever seen SE you really are pathetic now and it will be a cold day in hell before i ever touch another one of your products ever again. RIP Ericsson you served us well. Marc |
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