Nokia has powered up its handset software update system, having trialled the tool last year. The web-based system allows phone owners to update their devices without having first to find a service centre to do it for them.

Related stories

• Nokia unveils 'emerging market' handset septet
• Nokia attempts to patent rotating numeric pad
• Nokia spreads its love
• Nokia-Intel 'super 3G' laptop module romance over
• Nokia turns on N series TV phone
• Free Nokia route-planning app fails to show
• Nokia raves about new E-series phones
• Nokia to free route-planning app, maps

Some 35 Nokia handsets are supported by the facility, including the Finnish phone giant's E and N series devices, its 770 and N800 internet tablets, and many of its most recent handset releases.

The system is supposed to offer over-the-air updates as well as downloads that need to be retrieved by a PC - only Windows XP and Windows 2000 systems are supported - but none of the handsets we checked provided OTA transfers. Presumably, Nokia is planning to implement this in due course.

The updater can be found at Nokia's website, here.