Home > Nokia N97 firmware v20 update due this week?
Nokia N97 firmware v20 update due this week?
By Mike Browne on October 12,
 2009 at 00:00,

Nokia N97 firmware v20 updateThe much anticipated Nokia N97 firmware v20 update should start to roll out later this week. After all, it'll be making it's appearance on the Nokia N97 mini as well as becoming available for the Nokia N97. With that in mind, find out why we think the Nokia N97 firmware v20 update is due this week....

We've been tempted with the Nokia N97 firmware v20 update long enough but we reckon it's about to start rolling out. After all, with Nokia's flagship store in London announcing the Nokia N97 mini will be on sale in-store as of the 23rd October, it makes sense.

The update will be pre-loaded on the Nokia N97 mini from launch, so we know it's already out there. The Nokia N97 firmware v20 update will bring with it a whole host of updates, from pre-loaded apps such as Vlingo, to an even easier to use interface.

Then there is the addition of kinetic scrolling, which will add a more tactile experience to navigation, even allowing you to flick through long lists, such as your contacts and music files, seamlessly. The question is, will it be available as a download for the Nokia N97 at the same time?

So, what do you think, will we see the Nokia N97 firmware v20 update this week, or will we need to wait longer?

Check out the Nokia N97 v20 Firmware update video:

Tags: firmware N97 Nokia Update v20
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  • mummi

    I guess it will take a while, Nokia is not saying anything about the firmware release date, just that it will be due sometime in October. It could be tomorrow, it could be end of October… I just hope it will be available as soon as possible because my N97 is making me crazy. I hope the 2.0 firmware will solve all my issues…

  • Paul Mannu

    There has been considerable emphasis on the kinetic scrolling feature. Great. But everyone who has an n97, including myself, knows its a clunky system with some major performance issues and it seems that noone has reviewed whether 2.0 will resolve these performance issues. As for time of arrival. The branded versions I’m sure will need to wait so I am not holding my breath but I would imagine we will all have our hands on this firmware by late October beginning of November given the launch of the mini

  • Colin J Richardson

    OVI suite 2.0 version appeared on my computer today, not sure if that is an indication or not. I don’t why everyone seems to be having so many probs with the N97, apart from a few quibbles with the main screen and shortcuts, I think its a great phone even now and I can scroll with my finger-nail or a stylus without any worries.

  • R. Fernandez

    Hopefully it will come out soon. I personally do not think that it will resolve the main issues on the phone, slow processor, low memory, sluggish responce but what ever improvements they make on the software side to make it run leaner will help. I am really getting tired of the constant hang ups while hanging up a call and having to reset the phone on several occasions but I guess now I am stuck with a second class phone at a first class price.

  • sam

    i hope they make it available im still running v11 n97 is a good phone but nokia may lose me as a consumer because the lack of software available

  • Darren

    Paul Mannu’s comment has hit the nail on the head. I don’t care if it has kinetic scrolling or not. i do care that I have to reset the phone at least once a day, the phone is generally slow to use, ovi store constantly telling me that my account is invalid and then suddenly it is fine, the list goes on.

    This is my first Nokia having used a WinMo for the last 3 years which was pretty good by all accounts. The TV out on this was the icing on the cake with this handset but it’s a nightmare to use. Nokia would have been better off holding back the release until it was ready.

    It was the Iphone or this, and the reason I got this handset was for sat nav but even that is bad. The GPS is around 100metres out most of the time which pretty much rules out the point of sat nav.

    The Iphone does what you want it to when you want it to. Press the screen and it reacts, plays music without having to wait for a while for the library to update.

    Nokia should be ashamed of themselves with the release of this flagship handset. They’ve really shot themselves in the foot and I will not be upgrading after this contract is up. I just hope that they sort these updates out quickly so my 2 years aren’t all as frustrating as the last 3 months.

  • Buyer’s regret

    Darren makes good points – kinetic scrolling is not the only problem, from ground up the software supportin gthe N97 feel like a first go by Uni students – witha huge list of oversights and errors that make my day to day experience of using the Nokia N97 frustrating and negative.
    I had brand and image problem with going to Apple, but Nokia has lost all credibility for me by realeasing such junk. I find that negative discussions about the N97 are incredibly popluar on the net nowadays – it is like a victims support group for everyone around the world who got ripped off by Nokia!

    Not a day goes by that I dont
    1) have to power down the phone because it is jammed up
    2) open a conversation or tweet or thread warning people not to purchase Nokia products especialy the N97.

  • from Ghana

    i saw an indicator for firmware updating few minuets ago, and it is taking quite sometime. The phone is great and so far i do not have any regrets. i always enjoy Nokia products, and it serves me well.

  • http://www.s1te.net David

    Im also now starting to think why should I have gone for a so called flasgship device?
    There are soooo many bugs to list, I do hope this v2 will fix All of these.

    Also why were they so eager to release the N900 ?

    I think my next phone will now not be a Nokia due to the lack of updates, and poor communication.

  • conger

    I think in October 2010, maybe

  • Speedbird800

    People complain about the N97, People say that there is a lack of software. However even with the Iphone having tons of apps you can’t use them all. The iphone can’t have apps running in the back ground like the N97 can.

    I have to say that I love my N97 even with all the issues that I face from time to time. When the N95 first hit the market there were a few issues however they were ironed out after a while.

    Stop complaining and start understanding that if you use a Nseries handset you will have bugs. But they will get sorted.

    With regards to the V2, yes I want it and I want like yesterday. But I refuse to teased by it.

  • Inf

    After buying one I have to say that it’s by far the crappiest phone released by Nokia for a long long time. If you want a smartphone or a phone with touch screen, you should absolutely buy an iPhone or the new Samsung jet. Seems unbelievable that Samsung makes better phones than Nokia, but it’s true.

  • Proud owner

    I was one of the few ppl to buy the first edition iphone cos I just loved apple. I thought it will have the same reliability as an ipod or ibook. Oh boy was i wrong. I love the N97. I have nimbuzz running all the time in the background plus many other apps. Push email is not really push email on the iphone. It just checks your account for new email at pre-set intervals. Not to mention the battery. You cant change it. It even made it on Watchdog this week. Apparently there is some sort of a bug which puts the phone in a coma when it goes to sleep. Not when you are using it. When it\’s sitting on your table and you expecting a call or text. When the new FW update 3.0 came along I rushed to check a friends iphone just to check out all the new features. I was so glad to have an n97 just cos I don\’t need to get a new phone every time there is FW update. Didn\’t have any of the new features I had seen on TV. No video recording etc. I find it amazing that nokia can improve this phone so much with just FW updates. Camera, UI etc.
    One last thing, Am I one of the many or the few happy owners who don\’t come to these websites just cos we have no problems at all?! I was searching for a release date for the v20 when I stumbled across this article.
    As you can tell, English it\’s not my first language so sorry for the grammar.

  • Another prowd owner

    I absolute love my N97. Yes, the launch firmware was a disaster, but now with firmware v12.x.x, it is pretty darn decent, and it does everything i want and then some. There is tons of software for it, from various sources on the net, and the Ovi Store is also starting to shape up (again, it was a disaster in the beginning, but it is getting better), I bought several apps and games from Ovi.

    I simply love that I can have apps like Nimbuzz running in the background as well. The browser is also pretty great, it eats virtually any site I’ve come across, including Flash-stuff.

    I honestly don’t give a crap about the iPhone, I’ve had one, and while the UI certainly was good, the lack of flexibility, and wedlock with Apple’s supply chain pissed me off, so I sold it again.

  • http://www.s1te.net David

    Hi All,
    Could anyone confirm the following bug,

    On the homescreen, have one of the icons shortcut to “Photos”

    Press on that once added, It opens up and displays Captured, Months… etc

    Press Exit (bottom right) …

    Takes you to the main menu??, ok fair enough …

    Also press Back (bottom right) …

    Takes you to the main menu again??

    Last of not all, press exit… and finally back to the home screen. This is with & up to V 12.0.026

    Thanks

  • Joe

    I did want N97 for long time and I finally decided to buy one..

    I don’t have any particular software problem.. but just a second after I thought I just bought a perfect cellphone for me.. I realized that my N97 doesn’t vibrate at all !
    I took all the welcome-test including the vibration during the first day I bought the phone.. They all seem fine..

    Poor me.. I just used it for a week and now I have to wait 2-3 weeks for my N97 to be fixed by Nokia..
    =(

  • Simon

    Well we are still waiting with baited breath for the new firmware….any news?

  • Mikey Bee

    I know, I’ve not heard anything – anyone else? With the news that Vodafone will start selling the Nokia N97 mini on the 29th, maybe we should have said the update was coming before the end of the month?

  • Grant Bajere

    None of these features are ground breaking…so…how about this:

    SUPPORT FOR MAC USERS AND GIVE US AN UPDATE THAT ALLOWS US TO USE iSYNC!!!!!!!!!!!

    I am on Vodafone and as soon as they have the iPhone instock, im selling this pain in the ass and getting something that works! NO business phones seem to have the problems that the N97 has, and the lack of effort from Nokia to fix problems people are having, and an update to allow MAC support is shocking!!!

  • Michael Spence

    As a once owner of an iphone i can definatly say i wont be going back to one, it\’s a good phone don\’t get me wrong but it lacks the basic functions phones had 5 years ago, I know that the n97 has had mostly bad reviews since it came out but new phones usually have some glitch on when they first get released. I\’m waitin till my upgrade next month till i get the n97, I just don\’t know wether to get the normal one or the mini.
    (Just my opinion about the iphone)

  • daan

    I had my N97 running on FW v11 for a loooooong time. I could not update to V12 until this week. I got an SMS and I could finally update to a slightly better firmware.

    My question: because my phone is an unbranded UK model, do I have to wait for the V20 update longer as the rest of the world?

    cheers,
    Daan

  • Ron

    Does anyone else have the Three network (in the UK) because I still cannot upgrade the firmware, still stuck on v11 ?

  • BBCBetty

    v20 warez can kiss my donkey… selling to get the iPhone 3gs – nokia have gone nutz, apart form touchscreen I could actually do more on my N73 and N95 web and game wise.

  • OzziN97user

    Sunday October 25th – Australia – Still no updates.

    Current Firmware: v12.0.024
    Product Code: 0576208

    Hurry up Nokia! Release the 2.0 Firmware!

  • martin

    i have a n97 on three network in UK. stll stuck on v11, on my 2nd phone, soon to be 3rd. Screen stops working, and now it decides to switch off and jus vibrate?

  • OzziN97user

    Monday October 26th – Australia – Again Still no updates.

    Also called Nokia “Care” in Melbourne – Asked if i came in they could put 2.0(v20) on my N97, and was told it would take at least 24hrs..and they still only have v12 of the firmware.
    I asked if they know when 2.0 will be available – or when *they* will at least have it, and they have no idea when – and was told that Nokia in General “…dont really tell us when or anything..”

    Current Firmware: v12.0.024
    Product Code: 0576208

  • seppo

    No more tampoons for my n97 :S

  • OzziN97user

    Wednesday October 28th – Australia – N97 v20.0.016 Available!

    PEOPLE!

    Version 2.0 is available!!!!

    Product Code: 0576208

    I am currently downloading via NSU and will post of results!

    Update size: 133.9MB

    It’s About time Nokia! – Thankyou!

    And I really hope this firmware fixes all the bugs with my N97 as this software is what will make or break it as a true competitor of the iphone.

  • OzziN97user

    Edit: V20.0.019 not 0.16! – sorry my bad typo. :)

  • Mikey Bee

    @OzziN97user – persistence paid off – glad to hear you got it OK :)

  • sydn97

    ozzin97userr – wht state r u in ? is it thru your fone or computer?

    bye !

  • luke

    im with 3 in audtralia and i still cant get the update but they told me the service centre can install it for me which makes no sense