By Mark Yeong

The Internet is such a wonderful medium - entire DVDs can be transferred electronically and information updates are made almost instantly available for download and viewing. Even now more software developers are turning to electronic transfer as a convenient way to push software upgrades and updates to their customers.

Traditionally. to do an update, one would have to make a trip to the service center to get the latest updates and of course in the process risk losing your precious contacts. However Nokia has taken to electronic transfer as a mean to allow end users to safely update their Nokia handsets with the latest firmware in the convenience of their home or office.

Nokia Software Updater

The Nokia Software Updater is a Windows based application to keep Nokia phones up to date and running smoothly. Using the updater makes upgrading the phone a simple process, to update you just need to:

1)    Download the Nokia Software Updater installer
2)    Install the software on the PC
3)    Connect your handset to the PC
4)    Backup your necessary information
5)    Click through a couple of buttons
6)    Wait and let the software download over the Internet

You can find more instructions via the following article here.

Although this is a convenient method to keep your phone updated, one must remember that this method still requires a PC to help update your handset. With the vast improvements in over-the-air data access such updates can now be done easily via Independent Application Delivery IAD

Independent Application Delivery

What is Independent Application Delivery? In short, it is the ability to update your devices firmware with just an over-the-air data connection.

Phones are now able to receive updates without the need to connect to a PC and the freedom to receive these updates all via your mobile phone over the air. This makes the task of updating so much simpler. Just key in a code, select update and let your phone do the rest, isn’t this far easier as compared to the task as described previously.

How to perform IAD with Nokia phones?

Do note that IAD is a new feature that is applicable only on some of the latest Nokia devices. On your phone key in *#0000#, this will give you details on your mobile phone.

Once you select Options, you’ll notice a Check for Updates option available. By doing so, your Nokia device will utilize the current active internet connection and tally itself with the server to check if it’s powered by the latest firmware.

Your phone will then search for updates on Nokia servers and if found will advise you on proceeding with the update.

Please do note that if you’re not connected to a wireless network the phone would most probably try to access the servers via the phone network and if you’re not equipped with a data plan the bill will be rather hefty if you decide to do an over the air update.