With all handsets released, the product you buy in the shops is not always the final version. Manufacturers frequently release software updates to fix bugs, improve reliability and add functionality. Historically this would have involved being without your phone for 2-3 weeks or more while you sent your phone back to the manufacturers service centre. Quite often all data on the handset would be lost, and in some cases phones could get lost or damaged on their way to and from the service centre.
Sony Ericsson have made all this a thing of the past by launching a software update service that you can do yourself wherever and whenever you want.
There are two ways to update the software on your phone – Sony Ericsson Update Service (referred to as SEUS) and Over-the-Air (referred to as FOTA).
Both methods are simple and straight forward, but the FOTA service is only available on handsets made in the last few years, whereas SEUS is available to pretty much all Sony Ericsson handsets.
Why should I update my phone?
You may not be experiencing any problems or software issues with your phone, so you may not think you need to update it, but some of the updates released can improve features such as battery life, photo quality and improve support for other devices such as Bluetooth Headsets. On some occasions manufacturers may release a completely new feature onto a handset through the software update service.
So what’s the difference?
SEUS is a PC based application that you can download and install from the Sony Ericsson web site. Once installed, the program will ask you which phone you want to update, and then download the necessary updates. In order to use SEUS you will need a PC, a broadband connection and the correct data cable for your phone. Using the SEUS protects your user data and doesn’t delete any of your text messages, photos, videos or contacts. Before you start the update you need to make sure that your battery is fully charged, and ideally should have backed up your data using the Sony Ericsson PC Suite just incase something doesn’t go to plan. You cannot run the update service over a bluetooth connection. SEUS normally takes around 10 minutes to complete.
Click here to go to the SEUS download page
It is very important that you do not disconnect or turn off your phone or computer during the update process as this can cause extreme damage to your handset.
FOTA is a remote update service. Your phone will connect to the Internet and check with Sony Ericsson for any updates to the software already running. If it finds an update, it will download and install it straight to your phone without having to connect to a PC. Software updates are quite large in size, so this method is only recommended if you have an unlimited data plan. A typical update is between 4 and 5 MB, which although is not a lot of data, at up to 2.50 per MB (depending on your service provider) it can prove to be quite expensive.
Using the FOTA option protects your user data and doesn’t delete any of your text messages, photos, videos or contacts. Before you start the update you need to make sure that your battery is fully charged, and ideally should have backed up your data to your PC using the Sony Ericsson PC Suite just in case something doesn’t go to plan. FOTA normally takes 4 minutes to complete in 3G broadband coverage areas, it may take longer if you are not in a 3G signal area.
To check if your phone supports FOTA, go to the Settings Menu, If Update Service is listed you can use the FOTA service. Select Check for Update to start the process.
It is very important that you do not turn your phone off or remove the battery during the update process as this can cause extreme damage to your handset.
How-To Guides, iPhone, iPod, Software Updates | Dean | 
June 18, 2009 2:53 pm | 
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