Updating phone...firmware, software, etc

"Jbob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> What needs to be updated on Sprint phones? I realize the PRL needs
> updating occasionally but how about the phones firmware or software? I
> have a option on my phone, a Samsung A840, that says Update Phone but it
> has never seemed to update anything. If I run it it always says "No
> firmware update available". This phone is 3 years old, surely there's
> been an update. It is like a nightmare trying to get a PRL update.
> Usually takes three or more tries. Taking the phone to a nearby SprintPCS
> store seems useless. The employees don't seem to understand.
>

"Update Phone" is for firmware updates. About the only only that may be out
there is one for the 'logo' change on Sprint

I know you have said "It is like a nightmare trying to get a PRL update"...
Not really... There is a simple process.
A) Call *2 and when prompted say PRL Upgrade as in pee-are-ell upgrade. That
should take you to a representative
B) Just ask the rep.. "Please flag my phone for a PRL upgrade"
C) Hang Up
D) Wait 5 minutes
E) Call *2 and you should get the message "We have detected that you
need..." or something to that effect
F) When you get "upgrade is complete". END CALL
G) If phone does not power off automagically, then power it off
H) Power it back on and check the status on the appropriate screen

---

› See More: Updating phone...firmware, software, etc

On Sep 18, 4:49*pm, "Jbob" <[email protected]> wrote:
> What needs to be updated on Sprint phones? *I realize the PRL needs updating
> occasionally but how about the phones firmware or software? *I have *a
> option on my phone, a Samsung A840, *that says Update Phone but it has never
> seemed to update anything. *If I run it it always says "No firmware update
> available". *This phone is 3 years old, surely there's been an update. *It
> is like a nightmare trying to get a PRL update. *Usually takes three ormore
> tries. *Taking the phone to a nearby SprintPCS store seems useless. *The
> employees don't seem to understand.

What you are running into is that there are no longer any firmware
updates being produced for you device. Basically, it is as updated as
it is ever going to get other than an occasional PRL release. The
last firmware/software relaese for the A840 was April 10, 2006. The
version code for that release was: a840.ZA26
To check the version you have on the device, and the PRL # follow
these steps:
To check the handheld device for the software version follow these
steps:

Press Menu/OK.
Scroll and highlight Settings, press Menu/OK.
Scroll and highlight Phone Info, press Menu/OK.
Scroll and highlight Version, press Menu/OK.

The most up to date PRL is 10042.

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:16:58 -0700 (PDT), dafydd
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Sep 18, 4:49*pm, "Jbob" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> What needs to be updated on Sprint phones? *I realize the PRL needs updating
>> occasionally but how about the phones firmware or software? *I have *a
>> option on my phone, a Samsung A840, *that says Update Phone but it has never
>> seemed to update anything. *If I run it it always says "No firmware update
>> available". *This phone is 3 years old, surely there's been an update. *It
>> is like a nightmare trying to get a PRL update. *Usually takes three or more
>> tries. *Taking the phone to a nearby SprintPCS store seems useless. *The
>> employees don't seem to understand.
>
>What you are running into is that there are no longer any firmware
>updates being produced for you device. Basically, it is as updated as
>it is ever going to get other than an occasional PRL release. The
>last firmware/software relaese for the A840 was April 10, 2006. The
>version code for that release was: a840.ZA26
>To check the version you have on the device, and the PRL # follow
>these steps:
>To check the handheld device for the software version follow these
>steps:
>
>Press Menu/OK.
>Scroll and highlight Settings, press Menu/OK.
>Scroll and highlight Phone Info, press Menu/OK.
>Scroll and highlight Version, press Menu/OK.
>
>The most up to date PRL is 10042.
If the latest PRL is 10042, that means there has been no updates in
over 2 years. I've had my phone for over two years now and it
is at 10042 for the PRL. They use to update it 2 or 3 times a
year, but I guess they haven't made any network changes
for over two years. I've been wondering what the latest was.

On Sep 19, 7:30*pm, James DeLoach <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:16:58 -0700 (PDT), dafydd
>
>
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >On Sep 18, 4:49*pm, "Jbob" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> What needs to be updated on Sprint phones? *I realize the PRL needs updating
> >> occasionally but how about the phones firmware or software? *I have *a
> >> option on my phone, a Samsung A840, *that says Update Phone but it has never
> >> seemed to update anything. *If I run it it always says "No firmware update
> >> available". *This phone is 3 years old, surely there's been an update. *It
> >> is like a nightmare trying to get a PRL update. *Usually takes threeor more
> >> tries. *Taking the phone to a nearby SprintPCS store seems useless. *The
> >> employees don't seem to understand.
>
> >What you are running into is that there are no longer any firmware
> >updates being produced for you device. *Basically, it is as updated as
> >it is ever going to get other than an occasional PRL release. *The
> >last firmware/software relaese for the A840 was April 10, 2006. *The
> >version code for that release was: a840.ZA26
> >To check the version you have on the device, and the PRL # follow
> >these steps:
> >To check the handheld device for the software version follow these
> >steps:
>
> >Press Menu/OK.
> >Scroll and highlight Settings, press Menu/OK.
> >Scroll and highlight Phone Info, press Menu/OK.
> >Scroll and highlight Version, press Menu/OK.
>
> >The most up to date PRL is 10042.
>
> If the latest PRL is 10042, that means there has been no updates in
> over 2 years. *I've had my phone for over two years now and it
> is at 10042 for the PRL. *They use to update it 2 or 3 times a
> year, but I guess they haven't made any network changes
> for over two years. *I've been wondering what the latest was.

That is not to say that there are not other PRLs, but that is the most
recent one that your device is compatible with.

"dafydd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>On Sep 18, 4:49 pm, "Jbob" <[email protected]> wrote:
> What needs to be updated on Sprint phones? I realize the PRL needs
> updating
> occasionally but how about the phones firmware or software? I have a
> option on my phone, a Samsung A840, that says Update Phone but it has
> never
> seemed to update anything. If I run it it always says "No firmware update
> available". This phone is 3 years old, surely there's been an update. It
> is like a nightmare trying to get a PRL update. Usually takes three or
> more
> tries. Taking the phone to a nearby SprintPCS store seems useless. The
> employees don't seem to understand.

What you are running into is that there are no longer any firmware
updates being produced for you device. Basically, it is as updated as
it is ever going to get other than an occasional PRL release. The
last firmware/software relaese for the A840 was April 10, 2006. The
version code for that release was: a840.ZA26
To check the version you have on the device, and the PRL # follow
these steps:
To check the handheld device for the software version follow these
steps:

Press Menu/OK.
Scroll and highlight Settings, press Menu/OK.
Scroll and highlight Phone Info, press Menu/OK.
Scroll and highlight Version, press Menu/OK.

The most up to date PRL is 10042.


Fortunately I've got the latest PRL...10042. However my phone version is
slightly older. My version page shows:

S: ES.A840 YH09
H: A840.05
SIP: E.1.5.2.13

According to that my firmware is an earlier version. I got my phone in
Novermber 2006.

"Joe Gill" <joegill@[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Jbob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> What needs to be updated on Sprint phones? I realize the PRL needs
>> updating occasionally but how about the phones firmware or software? I
>> have a option on my phone, a Samsung A840, that says Update Phone but
>> it has never seemed to update anything. If I run it it always says "No
>> firmware update available". This phone is 3 years old, surely there's
>> been an update. It is like a nightmare trying to get a PRL update.
>> Usually takes three or more tries. Taking the phone to a nearby
>> SprintPCS store seems useless. The employees don't seem to understand.
>>
>
> "Update Phone" is for firmware updates. About the only only that may be
> out there is one for the 'logo' change on Sprint
>
> I know you have said "It is like a nightmare trying to get a PRL
> update"... Not really... There is a simple process.
> A) Call *2 and when prompted say PRL Upgrade as in pee-are-ell upgrade.
> That should take you to a representative
> B) Just ask the rep.. "Please flag my phone for a PRL upgrade"
> C) Hang Up
> D) Wait 5 minutes
> E) Call *2 and you should get the message "We have detected that you
> need..." or something to that effect
> F) When you get "upgrade is complete". END CALL
> G) If phone does not power off automagically, then power it off
> H) Power it back on and check the status on the appropriate screen

Thanks for that Gill but unfortunately that is the same procedure I have
used in the past to get a PRL update. I read about that from some Sprint
forum I found. The last time I tried it it took 3 calls for them to get it
right. Perhaps I was just unlucky that time. I do have the latest PRL
already however. 10042