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Question about Nokia N96 firmware update

4 replies · 4,640 views · Started 02 October 2008

Hi folks.

I purchased a Nokia N96 from T-Mobile yesterday. Loving it so far, despite numerous crashes. I was warned by T-Mobile that the software is very new and so I expected a few teething problems.

With regards to a firmware upgrade. I've read here and various other places that v11 has been released, yet nothing is appearing on Nokia Software Updater. I placed a call to Nokia UK this afternoon which yielded the unexpected news that v11 hasn't been officially released yet, and I should 'expect it sometime mid-October.'

I'm more than hesitant to de-brand my brand new N96. Nokia advised against doing this, and I don't want to risk 'bricking' my shiny new toy after waiting 8 months for it to be released here. Could someone shed any light on the status of v11 and whether it's publicly available?

Thanks. Love the web site!

It all depends on your product code as to if you can get it. I got it on vodafone Branded and mine wont update. Think its just the Sim Free ones at the moment. Dont think I can put up with the text issues on it though.

The non-branded versions should update everywhere. Normally operator versions take a few extra weeks.

Other than the PC software updater, have you checked to update over the air? *#0000# on idle screen --> launches device manager --> options --> check for software update.

i have a sim free one from nokia store and it wont update.
OTA or pc suite

the update pages mentions some regions gettin updates in 'a few week'
though it refered to DVB-H regions which the uk isnt one of.

PaddyMcJustin wrote:Hi folks.

I purchased a Nokia N96 from T-Mobile yesterday. Loving it so far, despite numerous crashes. I was warned by T-Mobile that the software is very new and so I expected a few teething problems.

I wouldn't count on it being any time soon. In the last year ive owned the N95 there have been 3 New Firmware updates and ive only seen one official T-Mobile update.

Software gets launched for vanilla sim-free handsets first. The operators then need to get hold of it remove all the stuff they don't want you having access to (Internet Calling for Example), brand it to buggery, add lots of software you don't want or need, and do silly things like stick an operator logo on that looks ghastly on any theme other than theirs. Once they have done this they launch it for you to download.

This can take weeks but in reality it normally takes months. The new software by the time they launch it is normally buggy as hell thanks to their additions and normally superceeded by new vanilla software a few weeks later and the cycle repeats.

You can debrand your phone but the trouble is that it voids the warranty. The other trouble is that Nokia know via their online NSU logs what software WAS last flashed to the phone and as soon as they compare the software version to the product sticker they will know the warranty is void. They don't always catch this though so it's rearlly 50/50.

Basically if it breaks you can send the phone back for repair and hope for the best but another resort is to "loose" the handset or have it involved in an "accident" so it becomes an insurance job.