Nokia successfully trialed a method, called Nokia Software Updater, to make it easier for users of its cell phones and smartphones to learn about enhancements to as well as updates available for the system software on their mobile handsets. In the past, you had to trek down to a Nokia service center and have this operation performed for you.

The phone maker has just made Nokia Software Updater more widely available, at select local support web pages in addition to www.nokia.com/softwareupdate. The service also supports a much wider variety of devices than before. These include four Eseries models, nine Nseries models, Nokia's two Internet tablets (the 770 and N800) and a lot more.

According to Nokia, three quarters of a million people have updated their Nokia device using Nokia Software Updater so far. The free service is available in about 40 languages and has been added to the Nokia PC Suite software, which ships with many of its smartphones.

To update your device:

--At the bottom of the www.nokia.com/softwareupdate first click the option that says "check to see if your phone has available software updates."

--If the answer turns out to be yes then go back to www.nokia.com/softwareupdate and select your specific phone model from a dropdown menu. There are directions on how to find this out if you’re not sure

--Once you select your phone a picture of your device will appear to the right of the dropdown menu. Upon which one or two update options are made available: depending on your device, you can either update it via PC, over-the-air, or both ways.

--After you select an update option the application directs your through the five or six specific steps to update your phone.

In this example, I've selected the Nokia N93i, whereupon I was offered the only option available for updating this smartphone's software, the PC.