Finally! Bought The Samsung GS3 but how to Update to 4.1? (T-Mobile, Verizon)

[oldhousegirl]

Got the phone from wirefly - should be here in a couple of days. In my excitement at the cheap price of $49.99, I didn't catch that it was 4.0 ICS. How do I update this to Jellybean?? Please tell me its simple!

This is my first smartphone .

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by oldhousegirl

Got the phone from wirefly - should be here in a couple of days. In my excitement at the cheap price of $49.99, I didn't catch that it was 4.0 ICS. How do I update this to Jellybean?? Please tell me its simple!

This is my first smartphone .

Your carrier will push the update through to you with a notification that the update is better downloaded via Wi-Fi.

Or you can click Settings>System Update>Update Samsung Software which will check for updates. If one is available, you can download and install from there.

[oldhousegirl]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

Your carrier will push the update through to you with a notification that the update is better downloaded via Wi-Fi.

Or you can click Settings>System Update>Update Samsung Software which will check for updates. If one is available, you can download and install from there.

Thank you. On the settings you mentioned "if one is available". Are updates blocked from the carrier? Would I be stopped because I didn't get the handset directly from Verizon and potentially have to keep 4.0?

[Skunk Workz]

Originally Posted by oldhousegirl

Thank you. On the settings you mentioned "if one is available". Are updates blocked from the carrier? Would I be stopped because I didn't get the handset directly from Verizon and potentially have to keep 4.0?

It's up to the phone manufacturer, and the carrier to decide that they want to release / push 4.1 for that phone. If they don't do it, there won't ever be an update available.

[Thegonagle]

A little bit about how the Android OS update process works:

When Google releases a new OS version, first the phone manufactures (Samsung, HTC, LG, etc.) decide which models will support the new OS. High-to-mid range models more than 12-18 months old tend to get abandoned, as do "entry level" models with slower processors and less RAM. Then the manufacturer goes to work testing and customizing the OS for each model they decide to support.

When the manufacturer decides the update for a particular model is ready, then they send it off to the carrier (Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.), who tests it further, and sometimes bundles in custom software like "My Account" and "Backup Assistant."

Once it passes the carrier's testing, then it's released to customer's phones. It can be several months from Google's latest release date before the carrier releases it to your phone.

Just to be clear, it doesn't matter where you buy the phone. If it's the Verizon version of the handset, Verizon will supply the latest firmware/OS release when you activate it.

The same also goes for the other carriers. It doesn't matter where you buy the phone, the OS support from the carrier is the same whether you buy direct or through a reseller.

When an older/slower model is abandoned by the manufacturer, it's stuck with what it has unless you learn how to flash new third party software. There's a lot of people who do this. People on sites such as XDA-developers can be helpful if you become interested in this.

[oldhousegirl]

Originally Posted by Thegonagle

A little bit about how the Android OS update process works:

When Google releases a new OS version, first the phone manufactures (Samsung, HTC, LG, etc.) decide which models will support the new OS. High-to-mid range models more than 12-18 months old tend to get abandoned, as do "entry level" models with slower processors and less RAM. Then the manufacturer goes to work testing and customizing the OS for each model they decide to support.

When the manufacturer decides the update for a particular model is ready, then they send it off to the carrier (Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.), who tests it further, and sometimes bundles in custom software like "My Account" and "Backup Assistant."

Once it passes the carrier's testing, then it's released to customer's phones. It can be several months from Google's latest release date before the carrier releases it to your phone.

Just to be clear, it doesn't matter where you buy the phone. If it's the Verizon version of the handset, Verizon will supply the latest firmware/OS release when you activate it.

The same also goes for the other carriers. It doesn't matter where you buy the phone, the OS support from the carrier is the same whether you buy direct or through a reseller.

When an older/slower model is abandoned by the manufacturer, it's stuck with what it has unless you learn how to flash new third party software. There's a lot of people who do this. People on sites such as XDrd A-developers can be helpful if you become interested in this.

Hi and thanks. Yeah I noticed that on the Verizon site the phone is listed as having 4.1 in the specs whereas on Wirefly, the phone is listed as 4.0 in the specs. I guess Wirefly is selling slightly older models before the handset came standard with 4.1. I really don't know but will find out what's up on Tuesday when the phone ships. Seems like I'd simply access update on the phone and be all set.

This whole cell phone aquisition process has been interesting to me. It was soooo much less stressful buying online versus all of the "busyness" and waiting in the actual Verizon store.

[SuperKirby]

Originally Posted by oldhousegirl

Got the phone from wirefly - should be here in a couple of days. In my excitement at the cheap price of $49.99, I didn't catch that it was 4.0 ICS. How do I update this to Jellybean?? Please tell me its simple!

This is my first smartphone .

Sometimes if OTA updates doesn't work, you have to update through Kies.