Japan’s mobile operators are leading the industry in
using firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updating to deliver new features and
performance improvements to Japan’s mobile consumers, according to Red Bend
Software.

Japan is among the most advanced wireless markets in the
world. Known for innovation and quality, Japan’s mobile operators were the
first to adopt FOTA in the mid 2000s, and today lead the industry in using FOTA
to regularly deliver new software versions and quality improvements to mobile
consumers.

FOTA is a standard feature of Japanese handsets, with 97
percent equipped with FOTA technology the highest penetration of any country.

Japan’s network operators put their brand on mobile
handsets, linking the operator’s reputation with device performance and
quality. Operators work closely with handset manufacturers to integrate FOTA
technology into their mobile phones and connected devices, to ensure they can
be managed and updated uniformly, efficiently and securely over the air.

Red Bend
estimates the number of firmware updates exceeded 50 million during 2010, and
is expected to grow substantially as mobile devices become even more
sophisticated with increasingly complex software.

The case study researched and published by Red Bend
Software found that Japan’s mobile operators are committed to FOTA because they
can substantially decrease customer care expenses and improve subscriber
satisfaction.

A key benefit of FOTA is the ability to release new
handset models on schedule and then later, if needed, update the phone with the
latest software and applications. Many devices get their first FOTA update
within a few weeks of product launch, which has made a significant impact in
maintaining consumer loyalty.

By Telecomlead.com Team
[email protected]