Wireless Devices and Wireless Device Software Updating

Wireless devices are undergoing a significant transformation from relatively simple voice-based telephone handsets to more sophisticated multimedia communication devices for business and personal use. In addition to handling voice communication, these wireless devices are now equipped with email, browsers, cameras, video conferencing and other sophisticated features.

In order to provide these features, wireless devices require increasingly complex wireless device software and firmware. As software becomes more complex, however, wireless device manufacturers and carriers face the challenge of ensuring that the software is of high quality and that the wireless device will be 100% reliable. As these wireless devices proliferate in the market, and the software complexity increases, the likelihood of defects causing an operating malfunction increases.

Up to now, repairing wireless devices already deployed to customers would require them to bring their device into a shop for repair. The repair involves "reflashing" the memory on the to update the wireless device software. This on-site reflashing of mobile device software is obviously inefficient, expensive and impractical on a large scale. A more effective alternative is gaining broad acceptance in the wireless industry - technology known as "over-the-air" (OTA) software updating for wireless devices. OTA wireless device software updating enables wireless device manufacturers and carriers to remotely update the software and firmware that controls the function of the handset wirelessly. New software that patches flaws in the software originally installed on the wireless device is delivered OTA, eliminating the need for the user to bring the device to a service facility.

For manufacturers and carriers, OTA wireless device software and firmware updating allows them to reduce support and warranty costs and avoid costly recalls. And for wireless device users, they are assured of receiving the most current software version, while avoiding the inconvenience of physically bringing their wireless device into a shop.