Apple has recently launched version 3.1 firmware update for its iPhone 3GS. The update adds a number of useful features to the already popular version 3.0. The most significant feature is probably the support for multimedia messaging. This will allow users who update their firmware to record video clips and send those via MMS directly.

That’s not all. An update to firmware 3.1 will also provide users with the following benefits:

• Syncing of movies, music, TV shows, photos, and podcasts will be greatly improved.
• Users will be able to trim a video clip and save the modified version as a new file.
• Performance of Wi-Fi will improve when Bluetooth is turned on.
• Using Voice Control will be possible on the iPhone via Bluetooth headsets.
• Users will be able to remotely lock their iPhones with passcodes of their choice with MobileMe.
• Users will be able to organize multimedia content stored on their phones with iTunes U, a feature available in iTunes version 9.

However, version 3.1 update is not without its own share of drawbacks. First off, many users have reported experiencing random lockups or freezes on their phones. In these cases, the only way out is to reset the iPhone, which wipes out a lot of data. Additionally, the phone may display an “unknown error” if the user tries to sync files with a PC that has a version of iTunes older than version 9. The most alarming problem is that the phone also seems to consume a lot more battery power after the firmware is updated.

As of now, the 3.1 firmware update for the iPhone certainly has some problems. Apple will probably fix these problems soon with another firmware update. Until then, however, the problems will persist, leaving users to update iPhone firmware at their own risk.