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> M600i : Vodafone UK issues list
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Ha Ha! the poor guy must thought he had a right one on the phone! Your right tho and that was a good comparison.
I took mine back to a voda store and told them the reason for returning it. The girl from voda said no matter where i go all phones are branded by the networks. I had to point out that i didnt resent network branding just the overkill that vodafone do.
To add insult to injury I had my bill today which isnt due till the end of the month and on it there was demand for £3.95 to be paid immediately. This was the delivery cost for the m600 which I had been told would just be added to my bill!
I noticed that the voda store didnt have any m600's and the girl said they didnt have a stock code for it. This might be incase any one asks for a demo 1st because if i'd have had one i certainly wouldnt have bothered.
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Posted: 2006-08-22 18:49:47
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Hi guys... first post here, so hello everyone... (and apologies in advance for the length of this post)...
I think the general consensus here is that Vodaphone have removed functionality from an otherwise pretty good phone (ignoring certain Voda themes, etc which some folk like and others don't). When I originally took delivery of the phone, I was disappointed that some key features had been removed (or at least I couldn't find them). One of these was the ability to create "shortcuts" - including the ability to re-assign a different function other than "task manager" to the "hard" button (located on the right-hand side, above the M2 slot). I particularly wanted to assign the "voice recorder" function to this button. I thought perhaps it's there and I can't find it... so after searching some forums, I gave SE a call. They were ok but pretty much said I'd need to speak with Vodaphone as they (Voda) were responsible for the customisation. So, I phoned Voda and the conversation went something like i.e. it wasn't going anywhere, thru complete lack of understanding or competance... so I asked to speak to "a manager" (of which there appears to be many at Vodaphone!)... same old same old (but at least she provided so many opportunities to use copius amounts of sarcasm).
Assuming you're still with me... I then checked the Vodaphone UK website and found the M600 was now free to new users + an attractive bundle. Pretty much seething at this stage, so I wrote a three page letter to Vodaphone highlighting all of the above (i.e. the problem with Voda branding and the removal of functionality and how they treat existing customers, etc.) and threatened to leave (my main argument being that I'm an above average user, spending an average of £150/month over the last 8 yrs).
Finally, I started getting a response and the upshot is the following:
They pretty much matched the offer for new users and refunded the cost of the phone and they added an "extras" bundle for free (worth £14 of data/month).
As regards the phone branding... and this is the best bit... the Voda guy's manager had tried to find out internally within Vodaphone, who is responsible for "branding", so that they could get an answer for me BUT "NOBODY" within Vodaphone UK appears to know... this guy from Vodaphone told me that they even called SE to ask if they might know!! Anyway, apparently Vodaphone have an intranet or forum called "voice for the customer" where they can pose various questions. I was told that my query has been posted there and as soon as they find out more, they'll let me know???
Whilst I thought this whole thing was completely farcical and really annoying, I decided to remain with Voda and keep the M600 as (even with reduced functionality and voda customisation) it's not a bad smartphone and the overall deal worked out ok in the end.
However, I do intend to continue emailing every 2 months or so to see where they've got with my query, in the hope that they might actually try... and I'd suggest all you guys do the same... I think if enough folk question this, then perhaps they might either come up with a happy compromise or perhaps they might not take this approach again...
Apologies for the length and thanks for all the advice posted...
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Posted: 2006-08-25 19:53:58
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The decision on firmware customisation is taken at a global level. Hence Vodafone UK did not make this firmware, and hence why they dont really know much about it.
PM me and I will send you my e mail address. I will pass your feedback on to the relevant people internally.
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Posted: 2006-09-01 09:58:15
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I note that Vodafone short codes such as *#147# (last caller) do not work on the M600i. You just get a blank screen.
Is there ANY way to overwrite the Vodafone firmware with the vanilla SE version?
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Posted: 2006-09-13 18:01:38
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Hey drgoni
That's great news. I'm still struggling with mine from day to day and it really is starting to get me down now.
Have you heard anything back from Voda on the customisation issue? It'd be good to know that we still have a little bit of 'consumer power'.
Perhaps we should all form a group and send off similar letters etc? Who's up for it?
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Posted: 2006-10-02 13:41:47
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Quote:
On 2006-09-13 18:01:38, cerij wrote:
Is there ANY way to overwrite the Vodafone firmware with the vanilla SE version?
No not yet. Unless you know someone at SE that can do it?
The usual suspects i.e. Wotan/DVT have yet to come up with a debranding solution yet.
[ This Message was edited by: Marc_SE on 2006-10-02 12:49 ]
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Posted: 2006-10-02 13:47:35
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Well its too late for sum but it looks like vodafone may be changing their ways.
I have had a samsung d900 on contract for the mrs with no branding whatsoever and got a p990 today which only has voda startup and shut down sequences.
Obviously it will be restricted to vodas firmware but its a dramatic improvement from the blatant destruction of the m600's firmware.
The p990's box was SE's original one unlike the vodafone red one that my m600 came in.
Do you think voda did this to the m600 as they considered it a business handset that joe public wudnt be interested in and gave it their coporate look like their blackberries?
On a different note, having now used both handsets i cant believe how much more user friendly the m600 is to use than the p990. The m600's ui is more centred towards using your finger to navigate if required with large softouch buttons on the bottom of the screen whereas the p990 with flip open really requires the stylus.
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Posted: 2006-10-05 19:00:02
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I am using a Vodafone Germany branded M600 (it is a business contract) and just called Vodafone Germany to find out if they can do something to improve the M600. The interesting thing is that the guy told be that I should call SonyEricsson and ask them to install the original firmware (for free he said). The only change will be that the support is done by SonyEricsson from the upgrade on.
This sounds pretty cool, I will try to find out how to do this...
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Posted: 2006-10-17 20:54:49
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Well, the guy lied, this depens on the manufactorer. Nokia for example does debranding stuff (according to the guy I called this morning) while SE does not. Great.
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Posted: 2006-10-18 08:50:59
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