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How EE works to test smartphone software updates

Sorcha
Former EE Community Manager

You don't often hear what goes on in the background to make sure that your smartphone software updates work the way they should. Here's how we make sure they do.

 

Love them or hate them, software updates are an inevitable part of owning technology these days. Manufacturers regularly update their phone software to add new features, fix bugs and issues and occasionally, a full new software version.

 

Not all manufacturers work in the same way when it comes to updating their devices. Some write a generic update that can go out to all their devices at once. Others will tailor an update for each of their handset models and another will not only tailor it to each device but then additionally for each network provider.

 

Occasionally providers can find issues with their specific versions that they've rolled out, so additional patches may be rolled out at a later date. Other providers' versions may not require these, this explains why occasionally some networks have different release versions of the same update.

 

Even small changes to a software version can affect how your phone works with a mobile network. To make sure that everything goes smoothly, we have an ever-growing team who work tirelessly to ensure that any changes made have no negative impact on how your phone behaves on a day-to-day basis.

 

Here is a run-down on what happens when a software update is planned and released:

 

 

Software testing equipmentSoftware testing equipment

 

 

Update Time

 

A manufacturer will decide that they need to make a change or update part of their software. This can be anything from small updates to fix bugs that have been reported to them by users, to add or remove features on the device or to give the software version a complete revamp and update to a brand new version. Sometimes an update will have a variety of changes bundled together rather than them having to roll out multiple changes individually.

 

The manufacturer will contact us and make a plan to test the update thoroughly alongside our team. We work closely with them to ensure that, all being well with the update, this is as close to the actual release date as possible. Sometimes this can run a few weeks behind as some manufacturers release their own generic build for open market devices prior to building network specific versions.

 

 

Testing

 

We are given the first version of the software by the manufacturer. Generally there are between two to four versions in total, depending on if there are any serious issues found with the initial version.

 

The first version will be thoroughly tested by both parties for around a week and fed into our bug-reporting tool to make sure that there is nothing that could cause problems. If anything is found, the manufacturer then normally needs a week or two to fix these and provide us with the next version to re-test.

 

To make sure you always get the best out of your phone our testing has to be very thorough. We make sure that the new software works with every part of the network (2G, 3G, and 4G) and that every feature you use on a daily basis is not impacted by it.

 

We don’t want you to run into any issues further down the line and want to make sure that devices perform optimally on our network. How devices interact with a network is just as important as spectrum and the number of masts a network has in terms of customer experience.

 

We take the software on a ‘drive test’, where we take to the road and monitor the update’s performance against its previous version from a wide range of locations on the EE network. And we test every feature to make sure that they have not been impacted by the changes including Bluetooth, calls, SMS, MMS, voicemail, streaming, email, battery life and application stress, the list goes on.

 

This process repeats until a version has been produced that meets the high standards of EE, the manufacturer and, if it is an Android device, Google. As you can imagine, if issues have been found this can sometimes take a little time as occasionally updates go through this process multiple times before they are able to be passed. Once the update provided by the manufacturer is given the all-clear it will then be rolled-out to devices.

 

 

Putting software through its pacesPutting software through its paces

 

The release

 

Once an update has been given the OK by everyone involved, approval to launch and deploy is given. The update is then added to the supplier's servers for rolling out over-the-air.

 

The update is released in small batches to begin with; which allows the manufacturer to monitor for any unexpected problems. Once running smoothly the update is then scaled up to all customers with the relevant compatible phone, and this is when you will get a notification that there is an update ready for you. The new software is also installed on any new devices coming out of the factory.

 

So the next time you see "Software Update Available" pop up on your phone, you know our team, working with the manufacturer, has done all the hard work in the background to make sure it works just the way it should.

23 Comments
wileybusiness
Established Contributor
Established Contributor

I’m impressed!

mirdragon
Skilled Contributor
Skilled Contributor

Quite interesting, but for me I don't think any network operator should have control over whether or not my phone receives an update and nor should it be modified with specific network requirements only. If you buy a phone it should receive updates from manufacturer only with nothing added by network operator.

 

Operators should only be able to update the communications settings and nothing else. 

Chris_B
Grand Master
Grand Master

@mirdragon  If that’s what you believe then you can get a device that the network doesn’t have anything to do with.   Go purchase the device outright and not from a network.   A device from a network is branded to the network so all updates are done as above.  If you don’t what to wait for an update you don’t have to.  Just splash the cash and buy outright. 

mirdragon
Skilled Contributor
Skilled Contributor

@Chris_B doesn't always work like that, the Huawei devices get rebranded by the network operator and thus become reliant on them for updates, even if you purchase outright and not on contract.

 

Also if you get a device on contract, once that contract is up your still reliant on the network operator to authorise updates even if no longer with the operator.

 

Why should an operator be allowed to install all their bloat ware on a device, certain settings are all done via usim these days so no need for specific firmwares on phones, this what helps android to be fragmented, devices to be a security risk and customers to be unhappy.

 

 

Chris_B
Grand Master
Grand Master

it’s gets branded as that’s part of the agreement to sell the device.  Branding  phones has been happening for years it’s nothin new, oh when I say years I mean 20+ years.   You purchase a device from the manufacturer it’s not branded by any network and updates are from the manufacturer but you’ll need to purchase the device outright in one go and that’s costly.  Purchasing a device from a network monthly is not so hard on the pocket but you’ll get the branding of that network. 

Profile closed
Not applicable

I've just received - three days ago - notification of an Android OS upgrade for my EE LG5 phone. I have 20 Gb of mobile data each month - do I have plenty. But the EE 1.7 Gb OS upgrade stipulates to use WiFi. I don't have WiFi. Nor do I have access to any WIFI. So, how can I download this upgrade? It's frustrating. Yes, my phone settings allow mobile data use. But the actual EE OS upgrade requires that WiFi is used to download it.

David
Brilliant Contributor
Brilliant Contributor

Hi @Profile closed

 

Welcome to the EE Community,

 

are you able to access any free wifi or a friend or family's wifi ?

David
Brilliant Contributor
Brilliant Contributor

@Profile closed you should able to choose how to download firmware updates on your phone under settings (firmware updates I think) change it from WiFi to mobile data

mirdragon
Skilled Contributor
Skilled Contributor

@Profile closed even doing that it will still tell you it needs wifi. Some people don't have wifi and no access to it, but instead have unlimited data packages and still can't download updates.

 

Ie in some rural areas they don't have good enough broadband but may have 50mbps mobile data connection  

Profile closed
Not applicable

No, Dai,

I don't have anyone I can ask to use their WiFi.
There is no such setting you describe on my phone. 
This specific EE OS upgrade demands that WiFi is used to download it. Yes, it actually does. It states it in words. And it won't allow me to get around this instruction / requirement.
It's not about my phone's settings. EE has obviously made WiFi a prerequisite in this instance so that the EE mobile network isn't suddenly inundated with multiple demands for this specific 1.7 Gb download.
I do have loads of mobile data available to me. I'm just not being allowed to use it for this upgrade because EE has made this so. Again, it's not my phone settings stopping me downloading this update, it's EE restricting this download to WiFi only as the means to get it. 
I hope that an EE shop will allow me to use their WiFi. 
BrendonH
Community Hero
Community Hero

It shouldn't stop you from downloading over mobile data.

 

It just advises you to use Wi-Fi so it doesn't use all tour allowances.

 

Go to software updates and check your settings. It may be set to Wi-Fi only. You can change this.

Profile closed
Not applicable

BrendonH, it's not about my phone settings. I have it set to download over the mobile network. But this specific download allows only for downloading via WiFi. See above what Mirdragon wrote. 

mirdragon
Skilled Contributor
Skilled Contributor

@BrendonH a lot of firmware updates now stipulate that you need to update over WiFi and won't let you update over mobile data even if option is set.

 

Profile closed
Not applicable

Hi, @mirdragon and @Profile closed,

 

I also have a LG-5 device with no way to download the new android Oreo upgrade!

With no access to any WiFi,

I used my loaf! Popped into my local EE store and after asking a member of staff politely, they connected my device up to EE's free wifi!

And whilst the upgrade was loading, the guy said: instead of waiting why not do some shopping and come back in 1 hour by which time the download will be complete!

That's what I did and left the EE store very happy 😊

 

Regards

 

mAh8v

Jon_K
Former EE Employee

Good Morning @Profile closed.

 

It's great to hear you had a fantastic experience in one of our stores 🙂

 

Thanks for coming to the community to share this with everyone!

 

I'm glad you got what you needed 🙂

 

Jon

Profile closed
Not applicable

Good morning @Jon_K, 😊

 

Yes! It was a great experience

And especially when you don't have a wifi device handy!

Other people reading this blog should do what I did.

In my other post above! 😊

 

Regards

 

mAh8v

Profile closed
Not applicable
Of course I might have to do that - I mean go to an EE Shop and ask to use
their Wi-Fi in order to download this upgrade. I've not been into town yet
though. But to be perfectly honest, I'd much rather EE just now make the
software upgrade downloadable via mobile internet. This is the only thing
I'll find comfortable as well as convenient.
Profile closed
Not applicable

 Good morning, @Profile closed,

 

I absolutely agree with you!

It would certainly make everything easier and cause far less hassle too!

But for me personally, visiting an EE store was the best option given that I live close to one! 😊

 

Regards

 

mAh8v

Profile closed
Not applicable

Good morning!

@Sorcha, 😊 I am Sorry! For not tagging you in my original post here, but I was busy at the time! 

have a great day. 😊

 

Kind regards

 

mAh8v

Sorcha
Former EE Community Manager

That's OK @Profile closed

 

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience!

Have a lovely day 🙂 

 

Sorcha 

 

John Hewitt
Not applicable

I have an A6 (SM-A600FN which has never updated since new in Novemer 18 (Android 8.0) and a Galaxy Taby A2 (SM-T813) tablet that has stopped updating (Android 7.0). Why?

James_B
EE Community Support Team

Hi John,

 

It may be that Samsung haven't made any new software updates available for your devices yet.

 

Have you checked manually for updates?

 

Thanks

 

James