Flashing is the process of re-programming a mobile phones's firmware. In Computing, firmware is a computer program that is Embedded in a hardware device for example a Microcontroller. Flashing should not be confused with unlocking, which is to remove restrictions put on a phone by that phone's wireless carrier. A SIM lock, simlock, network lock or subsidy lock &mdash not to be confused with PIN or PUK code &mdash is a capability Flashing is primarily performed by authorized service centers on behalf of the manufacturers.
Updating a phone's firmware can also cure programming glitches, as manufacturers competing to release their latest products may inadvertently release new handsets to the market with firmware issues. A glitch is a short-lived Fault in a system The term is particularly common in the Computing and Electronics industries and in Circuit bending The resulting sales often outweigh the cost of servicing handsets returned to service centers for repair. Firmware updates are often released for a mobile phone after its initial release.
Flashing may be performed on most makes or models of a mobile phone.
Procedure
Flashing is accomplished by connecting a phone to a computer using a data cable and copying new software from the computer onto the phone by using a dedicated flashing program. A cable is one or more Wires or Optical fibers bound together typically in a common protective jacket or sheath Such programs are unique to each manufacturer. For example Nokia uses a program called "Phoenix" while Sony Ericsson uses an advanced online program that uses a remote server called "Emma3". Nokia Corporation (pronunciation /'nɔkiɑ/),,) is a Finnish multinational Communications Corporation, headquartered Sony Ericsson is a Joint venture established in 2001 by the Japanese Consumer electronics Company Sony Corporation and the
Other manufactures use other programs. Samsung use a program called "Optiflash", ASUS uses a program called "Download tool" and Motorola uses its own program called "Triage". The Samsung Group ( Korean:, Samsung Guerup) is South Korea 's largest company or Chaebol and the world's largest conglomerate ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated (Asus () ( is a Taiwan -based multinational company that produces Motherboards Graphics cards Optical drives Motorola Inc ( is an American, multinational Fortune 100, Telecommunications company based in Schaumburg Illinois.
Recently, some manufacturers, such as Nokia, have taken a different approach when it comes to flashing, with software allowing the end-user to perform a device upgrade, without the hassle of taking the handset to a service center. This service, however, is only available for newer Nokia units.
The flash is comprised usually of several parts. The signaling part of the software, the content part and the Language pack.
The signaling part of the software contains all of the instructions to make the base band part of the phone work. This is all the computer circuitry within the phone akin to a small dedicated computer. The content part contains all of the ring tones and logos particular to a service provider. A ringtone or ring tone is the sound made by a Mobile phone to indicate an incoming call or text message A service provider is an Entity that provides services to other entities The language pack will contain all of the menus and words for the country and sometimes surrounding regions for the region in which the handset is sold. Of course by flashing this can all be changed, making it possible for an European variant of a handset to be converted to an Asian one just by flashing the firmware.
A typical flash pack can consist of a file otherwise known as a script from several megabytes up to 100 Megabytes. Symbian-based phones often have a higher size file as compared to handsets based on their own operating system custom made for that handset. Symbian OS is an open Operating system, designed for Mobile devices with associated libraries, User interface frameworks and For example a Sony Ericsson P910 flash file would be approximately 70 Megabytes and would take about 20 minutes to download into a handset during the flashing procedure. The Sony Ericsson P910 is a Smartphone by Sony Ericsson introduced in 2004 and the successor of the Sony Ericsson P900.
There are many after market programs that are available freely on the Internet to achieve the same result. The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks However, they are unreliable, may contain viruses and will void any manufacturers warranty as the result of third-party modification.
Most of the official flashing programs use security devices called dongles which prevent the software from working properly unless they are present. A dongle is a small piece of hardware that connects to a Computer. Such programs, however, can be cracked to allow the program to work properly without the dongle. Software cracking is the modification of Software to remove protection methods Copy prevention, trial/demo version serial number hardware key CD check An exception to this rule is Sony Ericsson's advanced online flashing program called "Emma3". Sony Ericsson is a Joint venture established in 2001 by the Japanese Consumer electronics Company Sony Corporation and the
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