First : Which phone do you have?
You have a lot of choices :
You can connect your phone to XS++ 3.1, SETool2Lite or else
Or just look up in your Phone :
-> Settings > Update Service > Software Version
or
-> press ">**<*<*" (<,> are the softkeys; left and right) and then : Service Info > Software Version
There are several Firmwareversions which you can patch..
You just have to look up for some Patches, like in Patchessection or on mobilefree.ru.
Here is an tutorial for patching DB2020 phones : Tutorial on how to patch unlock DB2020 phones for free - Top Sony Forums
Elve are little applications for your phone :
Executable and Linkable Format - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia