photo credit: mireia. Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) allows you to update your phone the mobile way, without any cables or PCs nearby. It is particulary useful for Mac users (who still haven't received an NSU client) and bored commuters. :-) My enthusiasm over anything OTA started with Ovi Sync and since then I refuse to go back to cables. Nokia Users were Born Free so it suits us to be able to sync, backup, update anything On The Go, Over The Air. This is also quite a unique feature - while Google's Android is able to receive automatic OTA updates (but a manual update voids your guarantee on the G1), the iPhone, for example, is still left in stone age with very limited cable-less options. Checking for FOTA updates can be scheduled on the Nokia N79, yet other models still require manual checking by typing *#0000# on the home screen of the phone. Interestingly, besides the newest N-Series phones, the Nokia 5800 also has this capability. (We will see next week, when it arrives ;-) Until then, please check the video of an N96 being updated:

OTA orgy:

• The past of software updates; video, Mikko Kuusisto about Nokia Software Update over the air
• The FOTA on new devices; video, Mikko how to use it
• How to Update the Firmware OTA; step-by-step guide by Vaibhav at The Symbian Blog
• Losing your FOTA virginity; video, Mark from The Nokia Blog
• The first FOTA update; N78 received the first in June 2008, Symbian Guru