vB Easy Archive - What is needed to update firmware?

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What is needed to update firmware?
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Posted by: Todd-Mobile

Hello fellow P800 owners. I have a question or two for you. First off, what is hardware is needed to update the firmware on the P800 other than my cradle? Where can I get the latest firmware rom's? Has anyone started working on their own rom's for new skins and gui tweaks?

Thanks in advance for any answers

Posted by: iridium

While the service providers are keeping a tight lip on the specifics of the procedure (this is totaly understandable on both their and SE's point of view), it seems there is nothing very exotic involved when doing a P800 firmware upgrade:
- a PC
- a serial connection; the USB cradle probably does the job
- the actual firmware (which needs to be downloaded from a private SE server)
- software utility to transfer the firmware to the P800 and initiate the upgrade

From what I understand there is no special hardware involved and no need to use any special SIM card...

Posted by: mikelaaron

i could swear that way back when the P800 was first announced, that along with all the bells and whistles of the actual phone, there were 2 key factors that SonyEricsson was pushing:

1) out of the box functionality...no complicated user settings...just insert a sim, turn it on and voila!
(this one came to pass)

then there's #2...

this was that "software upgrades" would be available freely (in some cases, over the air (OTA))...the idea was to keep manufacturers from having to deal with mountains of returned handsets...

i know that Danger implemented this with the Sidekick...firmware upgrades are done OTA

i'm hoping i'm right, and that after the "official US release" of the phone, that firmware upgrades can be done by individual consumers...

Posted by: rickpaul

Currently, you must take your P800 into a service center to get it updated. It is not an easy update and it takes about an hour to complete.

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Currently, a data cable/cradle simply will not work. To update the firmware, you first need to have the phone in service mode. For this, you will need a service cable.

Next you need the software. I dont believe there is a public software as of yet.

Then you need the firmware files. I believe R1F downloads over 10 files.

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I hope that Sony Ericsson comes out with a free software/firmware update program.

Posted by: Todd-Mobile

Rick,

First I want to thank a Service Point for responding to the questions. Where can I purchase a service cable for the P800? I would also like to know how I can contact SE about becoming a Service Point that has access to the EMMA II servers? I have a small computer consulting firm in TX and would like to become a local Service Point as well. Any information you can provide , PM if ya have too, is much apprecieated.

Thanks,

Todd