vB Easy Archive - S56 firmware update available now!

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S56 firmware update available now!
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Posted by: paul34

Ok, I'm actually a little confused about this . I went to the Siemens site, and looked at the downloads section of the S56, and saw this.

http://www.siemens-mobile.com/cds/f....html#co ntent

Go down to "firmware updates" - there ARE firmware updates! Version 18, and my SW version says 06.

I went to a Cingular corporate store probably about a month ago and they said there were no firmware updates for Siemens.

So, is this a real firmware update or am I misunderstanding something? I mean, the version jumped from the 06 that was on my phone to the v18?

Also, what are the differences for the new version?

Posted by: hbear

well thats neat.

my at&t s56 was version 6. out of curiousity i updated to version 7. so far, i dont notice anything different.

Posted by: akjohnson

I can't get it to work... it finds the phone ok on COM1 but then a few seconds later it says "cannot connect to mobile." I have a standard serial cable which works fine for using the phone as a modem. Do I need a different cable?

Posted by: hbear

Quote:

Originally posted by akjohnson
I can't get it to work... it finds the phone ok on COM1 but then a few seconds later it says "cannot connect to mobile." I have a standard serial cable which works fine for using the phone as a modem. Do I need a different cable?

well, this is how i ended up doing it. for some reason the automatic thing didnt work, so i did the "manual update start." make sure the phone is on. plug in the cable. then select the com port. and select continue. then when prompted, press your power button on the phone. but dont hold it. then it should start.

Posted by: akjohnson

Still can't get it to work. Another thing I forgot to mention is that the phone turns itself off after I start the flash process, then it says it can't connect. So I started the program with the phone disconnected, then plugged in the phone and chose manual update start. Then it prompts me to press the power key. I've tried pressing it fast and pressing and holding it and it doesn't work either way. The cable I'm using is an aftermarket serial cable I got on ebay. I have a feeling it's the wrong type of cable, but I really don't understand why it makes a difference. This has always annoyed me about Siemens, with the different types of cables where one can "power" the phone and the other can't. It makes no sense that simply providing power should make any difference in terms of the data communication.

Posted by: SockMonkey

Quote:

Originally posted by paul34
Ok, I'm actually a little confused about this . I went to the Siemens site, and looked at the downloads section of the S56, and saw this.

http://www.siemens-mobile.com/cds/f....html#co ntent

Go down to "firmware updates" - there ARE firmware updates! Version 18, and my SW version says 06.

I went to a Cingular corporate store probably about a month ago and they said there were no firmware updates for Siemens.

So, is this a real firmware update or am I misunderstanding something? I mean, the version jumped from the 06 that was on my phone to the v18?

Also, what are the differences for the new version?

That's awsome...now I know what I'm doing tomarrow

Sucks..I left my data cable on my office

Posted by: SockMonkey

I had the same failures...using a Siemens USB data cable. Upgrade program finds phone to start with, then starts upgrade process...reboots the phone and then phone stays off...software reports back that it can't find the mobile...

Oh well...thought it might be good to upgrade

Posted by: paul34

not sure how it works because I dont have a data cable but maybe...

Have the phone off, then when it's searching (if it does this?) turn the phone on. Would this work?

SECOND SUGGESTION:

Has anyone used an original Siemens data cable, rather than the eBay kinds? If one of you has an original cable, please try the update and let us know

Posted by: hbear

so i'm the only person who's upgraded?

well, the program pretty much tells you exactly what you need to do. so i dont know what else you could really do diffrently to get it to update. just when the phone/program shuts the phone down. just press the power button for a second and thats it.

also, i got my serial cable from eforcity which worked just fine. but i dont know why the other cables arent working if the phones do get recognized.

Posted by: akjohnson

Still no luck. Something strange is that the program never actually tells me to press the on/off key unless I use the program in manual mode. Do I maybe need to change any of the com port settings? Right now I've got it set at 57600, 8-N-1. Tomorrow I plan on taking my cable with me to try on another computer. This really stinks because I've been having some serious problems with the phone that hopefully a firmware update will fix (randomly freezing and shutting off).

Posted by: jerseyfreeze

Siemens is apparently unaware of OS X.

Posted by: SockMonkey

Quote:

Originally posted by paul34
not sure how it works because I dont have a data cable but maybe...

Have the phone off, then when it's searching (if it does this?) turn the phone on. Would this work?

SECOND SUGGESTION:

Has anyone used an original Siemens data cable, rather than the eBay kinds? If one of you has an original cable, please try the update and let us know

The phone seems to not let me turn it on after it turns itself off until I unplug it. I'll mess around with this and let you know.

I'm using an original Siemens USB data cable (wondering if serial would be better) and the update won't work for me.

Posted by: lowclass

doesn't work for me either
cingular version
unlocked
using oem usb siemens cable

Posted by: deanjen

Mmm...I'll get a S56 AT&T very soon..

Have anybody here tried the Cingular firmware(18) on AT&T S56? Any problem?

Posted by: albertr

No luck for me too... Cingular-branded S56 (unlocked) with fw v.17. Siemens OEM USB cable. Tried all possible COM port settings to no avail.
-albertr

Posted by: albertr

I've tried AT&T-branded v.7 update on my Cingular v.17 phone. This one actually seems to be able to talk to the phone at least, but it errors out complaining about wrong firmware version.

hbear, just wondering if you could possibly check any changes in bluetooth functionality, i.e. is FTP profile is still missing in new firmware? Also, can you try to see if DES works with the new firmware?
-albertr

Posted by: albertr

On a second tought, it looks like both AT&T and Cingular update programs DO communicate with the phone, Cingular update just passes firmware check and goes alittle bit forward, but fails afterwards.

I suggest everyone contact Siemens and let them know about the problem. There's a contact form available on thier web site @ http://www.siemens-mobile.com/cds/f...NrNrNrN,00.html

-albertr

Posted by: hbear

Quote:

Originally posted by albertr
I've tried AT&T-branded v.7 update on my Cingular v.17 phone. This one actually seems to be able to talk to the phone at least, but it errors out complaining about wrong firmware version.

hbear, just wondering if you could possibly check any changes in bluetooth functionality, i.e. is FTP profile is still missing in new firmware? Also, can you try to see if DES works with the new firmware?
-albertr

well, as far as i can tell... everything seems to be exactly the same on the phone. no differences. but then again, i have a t-mobile sim in my phone. and what about this DES thing? i think i tried to enable before but didnt know if it worked, since i didnt know what it was for.

Posted by: thndr

I tried the AT&T v7 firmware on my Cingular v6 phone, and for some reason it worked. The v18 one just couldn't find the mobile phone for some reason. Now when I try to run the v18 upgrade it says wrong firmware.

And yes, it's a cingular branded phone. Just to let you guys know. And no, nothing's wrong with the phone, and everything still works, or at least so far it does.

Posted by: albertr

DES is "Data Exchange Software" that allows to mount phone's flex memory as a removable drive under Windows. I have an AT&T-branded C56 which works with DES, but my Cingular-branded S56 (FW. v.17) doesn't. Also, OBEX FTP bluetooth profile is missing on my S56. I know that S55 generic firmware has both this profile and working DES support enabled, so I suspect that lack of these featurtes has something to do with Cingular "customisation". That's why I'm wondering whether it's enabled on AT&T-branded S56?

Too bad I can't try AT&T-branded firmware on my Cingular v17 S56.

Back to UpdateTool failure, I've tried it on two different compurers under Windows2000 and Windows98 with the same result. Send two emails to Siemens support, no response so far...
-albertr

Posted by: hbear

Quote:

Originally posted by albertr
DES is "Data Exchange Software" that allows to mount phone's flex memory as a removable drive under Windows. I have an AT&T-branded C56 which works with DES, but my Cingular-branded S56 (FW. v.17) doesn't. Also, OBEX FTP bluetooth profile is missing on my S56. I know that S55 generic firmware has both this profile and working DES support enabled, so I suspect that lack of these featurtes has something to do with Cingular "customisation". That's why I'm wondering whether it's enabled on AT&T-branded S56?
-albertr

DES didnt work with my (AT&T) S56, nor does it have the obex ftp profile.

Posted by: Candyman

For the guys who are not working for them, are you guys running any version of SP2?

I experienced the same thing upgrading my SL56 using my laptop which was running SP2...I then tried it on another machine running SP1 and it worked the first try.

Posted by: FiReBReTHa

cingular branding didnt work for me.

had to use ATTws upgrade.

Posted by: hbear

so if you used the ATTWS update on your cingular phone, you can still use your cingular sim? i suppose that makes sense, since i unlocked my S56, then updated the phone, and can still use my T-Mo sim.

Posted by: thndr

Quote:

Originally posted by hbear
so if you used the ATTWS update on your cingular phone, you can still use your cingular sim? i suppose that makes sense, since i unlocked my S56, then updated the phone, and can still use my T-Mo sim.

Yeah, no problem, but I also unlocked my S56 a while back. Actually it still boots up with the Cingular Logo, animation, etc. I still haven't figured out what changed when I went from SW05 (Cingular) -> SW07 (AT&T).

Yes, I typeod my original SW version in a previous post.

Posted by: albertr

Quote:

Originally posted by hbear
DES didnt work with my (AT&T) S56, nor does it have the obex ftp profile.

Ohh... thanks for clarification. Well, it seems that they crippled S56 on purpose, then. Too bad, I still had some hope that it's just a matter of firmware fix, not a policy.
-albertr

Posted by: BlindTreeFrog

wait i'm confused, the s56 update is to version 18... but if you look at the s55 update, it's to 16.

18 won't run on my s55.. says it's the wrong version. Plus I'm not seeing this manual mode people speak of.

Posted by: BlindTreeFrog

Running 18 won't work on my phone. It just says wrong software versoin.

Running 16 runs, but says cannot connect phone at the end and leaves me at the enter pin screen to turn my phone on. 16 is already on there, so it's not so bad, but i think i'm having firmware problems so I wanted to reflash.

Anyone know how to turn off the code to turn on? I remember i switched it once, but I don't remember how.

Posted by: kool99

I think seimen label the one for the At&t and the cingular by mistake. Because it make more sense that you go from version 06 to version 07 on Cingular phone. I used the cingular file and updated unsuccessfully - it detected the phone but didn't go through. I used the at&t for the cingular and the update run through without error. My phone is not unlock and it is from cingular. If you cannot get it to detect the phone - I think - first run datasuite to see if you can detect the phone - after that plug in the phone and run the software, when the software check for port - press a few button on your phone to make the phone active .... it should be able to detect the phone. I used the after market cable (serial port) on ebay.

good luck

Posted by: kool99

*Mod Edit

Please read the rules before posting about unlocking. Thx.

Posted by: cweber

The link for the firmware update states that is you are using a USB data cable that you need to map your usb to one of the com ports to make the software work.

That isn' possible is it?

If so how?

Has anyone with a USB cable been able to run this update yet?

Posted by: albertr

It's possible. But Cingular v18 update fails regardless of this.
-albertr

Posted by: paul34

Quote:

Originally posted by kool99
I think seimen label the one for the At&t and the cingular by mistake. Because it make more sense that you go from version 06 to version 07 on Cingular phone.

Interesting... that's actually quite possible and seems logical...

Well I suppose to answer this question someone would have to answer this question: What is the firmware version on AT&T S56's?

So, it would make sense that Cing. S56 fw is .06, with an upgrade to .07 (if there is a mistake on the website).

Which would mean that the AT&T S56 would have to have a fw version of .17 before upgrade?

So ATTWS S56 users, what is your firmware version??

Also, I'm seeing some S55 users trying to update with this tool - STOP! This update is for the S56, not the S55!

Posted by: albertr

I've seen a few AT&T-branded S56s having fw v6.
My Cingular-branded S56 has fw v17. So numbering on Siemens web site looks fine to me.
-albertr

Posted by: paul34

Quote:

Originally posted by albertr
I've seen a few AT&T-branded S56s having fw v6.
My Cingular-branded S56 has fw v17. So numbering on Siemens web site looks fine to me.
-albertr

Hmm.. were you able to upgrade in that case?

Also, when did you purchase your S56? Mine Cing. S56 has v .06

Posted by: ajayme

I have a Cingular S56 that was v6, used the AT&T v7 and evrything seems to work fine. I dont notice any difference but it did work.

Posted by: albertr

My Cingular-branded S56 was manufactured in November 2003 in Germany. It came loaded with fw v17.
-albertr

Posted by: paul34

According to the "Date\Time" function in my developer menu, my phone was manufactured April 04, 2003 and loaded with fw v06.

Since I haven't seen any posts about people getting replies to e-mails they send to Siemens tech support, perhaps someone could try calling them? I tried calling them once (on an unrelated issue) and they seemed quite knowledgeable, but a bit uncooperative.

If you can't find it, the number (as of the last time I called them) is:

1-888-777-0211
Siemens Customer Care

Posted by: magtaleon

The S56 i used is an ATT one, came with V6, upgraded to V7 with no sweat with the ATT upgrad file with a USB cable from Mobile Action. The Cingular on wont work after trying to update the firmware, but it did found the COM port.

Posted by: paul34

hmm... a crazy theory here but perhaps... some ATT phones were rebranded as Cingular and some Cingular S56's were rebranded as ATT?

Posted by: deanjen

Had a Cingular S56 originally running version 06...

Tried the Cingular V18...and couldn't get it worked.

Tried the AT&T V7...and viola! Strange...

But then again, this is probably better since AT&T's firmware isn't so restricting on the browser...haha...

NOt too bad at all, although I didn't notice any improvement.

Posted by: paul34

so if you use the AT&T update on the Cingular phone, do you have to unlock the phone to get it to work with Cingular (does the ATT firmware lock the phone to ATT or something?)

Also, does it change the GPRS/web browser (and SMS, MMS, etc.) settings to ATT's?

Posted by: hbear

Quote:

Originally posted by paul34
so if you use the AT&T update on the Cingular phone, do you have to unlock the phone to get it to work with Cingular (does the ATT firmware lock the phone to ATT or something?)

Also, does it change the GPRS/web browser (and SMS, MMS, etc.) settings to ATT's?

heh, i already asked that question. the people whol did use the other carriers update said they didnt have to unlock the phone. although, when i updated, i think some (not all) of my personal settings for tmobile gprs got reset.

Posted by: paul34

oh whoops, sorry for that... my bad for not reading my own thread LOL

So when your GPRS settings got reset, did they reset to the carrier which the firmware update was meant for?

Posted by: hbear

well, if i remember correctly (because this was awhile ago, i think that it left my settings for mms, wap and mail,java,rms under data services the same. i pretty sure that the msg. setup stuff in the messages section was left the same too. so, i guess the only thing that changed (reset to default) was my profile under the internet menu.

Posted by: AKiPal

hey guys...
i am finally flashing firmware on my sl56...
i have a problem to connect mobile like many of you...
when it says press on/off button, phone will be shut down itself...
then do nothing... do not press a single button and wait...
i kept running the program to update...
and once i forgot to press on while i was doing something else...
it started to update my phone...
well i am not sure if this will work for others...
i hope...
good luck...

i did not notice any changes with new v11 so far...
number ket delay looks to be fixed...

btw... i have a off topic question...
how can i change network setting on sl56 or any siemens phone...
on manual there is option to change but i only see only 'fast search' option there...
i wish to use 850mhz... it's not good in the building... it always looks for network in my pocket...

Posted by: grinny11

i have version 17 on my cingular phone. i just purchased it a few months ago. it's production date is 11-16-03 and it's software date is 7-17-03. niether the cingular nor the att update work with my ebay cable.

Posted by: paul34

i upgraded with the ATT version... formerly 06, now 07.

Too bad about the CIngular update - make it work, Siemens!!

Posted by: grinny11

so i went out and bought the official siemens cable from att for my cingular phone. i got the usb one. i tried running the update again crossing my fingers but no luck. it does find my phone on th com port automatically though. hope this gets worked out.

Posted by: akjohnson

Any new word on this? I still can't get it to work and emailing Siemens is useless. They just tell me that my phone is defective and I need to send it in.

Posted by: FiReBReTHa

tell them to read this post

Posted by: aldouse

you guys w/ cingular s56 who upgraded to the att firmware... did you have any problems accessing the internet?

i seem to get a "csd conection failure" everytime i try to use wap now.... any advice?

Posted by: ajayme

Because of poor reception, I replaced my S56 with a Samsung X427 and now everything is OK. I was able to access the web with no probs. Good luck!

Posted by: paul34

Quote:

Originally posted by aldouse
you guys w/ cingular s56 who upgraded to the att firmware... did you have any problems accessing the internet?

i seem to get a "csd conection failure" everytime i try to use wap now.... any advice?

I have a Cing S56 and upgraded with the ATT upgrade and I have no problems accessing the internet.

Do you have WIX on your account? Call customer service and ask them to resend the GPRS settings to your phone.

Posted by: akjohnson

To those of you who have successfully done the upgrade- did you just run the software and it worked the first time? I've been trying all sorts of things and I still can't get it to work.

Posted by: albertr

It looks like Siemens silently fixed the broken updater v.18 for Cingular-branded S56s and re-uploaded the working executable on it's web site. Go there, grab it, give it a try. I didn't notice any changes going from v.17 to v.18, thou. Obexftp profile is still disabled in firmware, shame on Siemens.
-albertr

Posted by: paul34

Quote:

Originally posted by albertr
It looks like Siemens silently fixed the broken updater v.18 for Cingular-branded S56s and re-uploaded the working executable on it's web site. Go there, grab it, give it a try. I didn't notice any changes going from v.17 to v.18, thou. Obexftp profile is still disabled in firmware, shame on Siemens.
-albertr

I wonder if this will work for phones that were already flashed to the ATT v. 7. Thanks for the update./

Posted by: akjohnson

Nope... won't work on my Cingular S56 flashed with ATT v.7 firmware. It tells me "update not possible, wrong sw version." Anyone know a way around this??

Posted by: paul34

Quote:

It does suck that for the American handsets Siemens doesn't bother publishing a changelog at all. I remember calling Siemens tech support back when v.17 came out - he basically said "if there's no changelog on the website, there's no changelog." I thought, okay, since they released a revised firmware, they obviously made some sort of change, which obviously had to be documented somewhere, but I guess Siemens engineers like to do their work in secret, and get these types of updates published passed all the appropriate levels of their company without anyone bothering to ask what the update is for.

I do think he mumbled something about fixing that problem where the phone will freeze and then shut off, but it hasn't fixed that problem. It's not as bad as it used to be (a long time ago before the update), but it's still undeniably there.

Posted by: paul34

Quote:

Too bad I had already done the ATTW variant upgrade a while back