Upgrade the SII to 2.3.6 , Can I ?

[mseif]

I am converting from Blackberry and buying now galaxy SII. The phone is coming with gingerbread 2.3.1 as advertised> I know it may be up-gradable to ICS 4 but I do not want to do it before I get really familiar with the phone and OS.

Can I upgrade at least (without any risk to brick the phone) to the latest version on gingerbread 2.3.6?

If yes, where can I get the that version and the instructions?

Thanks in advance !!

 

[breadnatty08]

If you prompt the upgrade, you'll likely go directly to ICS.
Go into settings - about phone - check for software updates. I'd recommend doing this pretty soon after first using as occasionally apps previously installed and used may cause some problems.

 

[mseif]

If you prompt the upgrade, you'll likely go directly to ICS.
Go into settings - about phone - check for software updates. I'd recommend doing this pretty soon after first using as occasionally apps previously installed and used may cause some problems.

Thank you much. But you are saying that I may have to go directly to ICS. In this case I do not know. From where I read, it seems complicated and risky .

 

[ironass]

As dreadnatty08 states, it is best to go to ICS immediately you receive the phone as there will be fewer chances of a problem if you have no Gingerbread app's or settings to integrate. See, here.

You could flash, say, Gingerbread 2.3.6 stock Samsung firmware to your phone, using the Odin PC suite but I would recommend going straight to ICS.

 

[mseif]

As dreadnatty08 states, it is best to go to ICS immediately you receive the phone as there will be fewer chances of a problem if you have no Gingerbread app's or settings to integrate. See, here.

You could flash, say, Gingerbread 2.3.6 stock Samsung firmware to your phone, using the Odin PC suite but I would recommend going straight to ICS.

Thank you very much for the advice. I may well upgrade to ICS. But I have a question, do the phone have to be rooted ? I have no idea abut how .
In the old past , I have upgraded my Samsung Omnia ( 6 years ago may be) many times but those were simple upgrades and not a new platform.
I have read the pages you referred to but still did not know what are the details and if the phone better be rooted or not.
If you can refer me to a simple clear guide, I would be grateful.

PS. What type of ICS rom I should download and from where ?

 

[ironass]

You do not need to be rooted to update your phone. See post #1, here.