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Now that there are "patches" available on the internet (sonyericssonserver & co.) that can turn the voda T610 into an almost non-voda T610, could anyone try to give a definitive answer regarding where the customization lies? (I especially think that Masseur or Cytech would be good at answering that
)
Because we have the following elements:
- at least two persons on the forum have had their voda-T610 uncustomized by a
service point, namely Haki in Greece and Senergy in OZ (sorry, not sure where it is...)
- Several others have uncustomized their phone themselves using the flashing server with a special version of the regular
software. Still, they cannot upgrade it to the latest version of the firmware without repaying a credit from sonyericssonserver and doing the same trick all over again.
My point is that the voda-customized software must not be
that harcored into the system if it can be almost completly removed by, either
service points, or flashing the phone yourself!
So, what kind of hope do we have to be able to get a regular T610 (without purchasing a new unbranded one) from a voda-T610?
Doesn't
show little benevolence in making it impossible to turn a voda phone into a regular phone? It's the first time customization goes that far on phones, right? (I read things here regarding customization of T68i, T300, etc. that is completly removed by doing the 13s. trick)
So, any though on that?
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Posted: 2003-08-12 11:49:13
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@fcd:
I'll try to explain those things I know about:
(all explanation below applies to the other phones I had, like Ericsson T65, R600, T68m->T68i and now T610).
For a branded phone there could be couple of options:
1) Customized WAP profiles, DATA accounts, Bookmarks
2) Network Lock and/or Subset Lock and/or Service Provider Lock and/or Corporate Lock
you may get a phone which is only (1), only (2) or both (1)+(2).
I had a phone branded to Cingular Wireless (USA), another to AT&T (USA), another to Vodafone (UK) and to T-Mobile (UK).
Before going on with the subject, I'd like to warn you that doing anything to your phone-software/hardware without being a
engineer or without letting a
service center to do it for you, you void the service agreement both with your Local Representative (the one who sold you the phone) and with any
service center, thus
not letting you to get your phone fixed for free or upgraded.
Because here in Bulgaria, we still don't have
service point (despite that the GSM operators carry some one year guarantee over the phones they sell) and adding the fact that I never had problems with my phones, I keep experimenting.
There are 3 things that need modification to have your phone affected:
1) GDFS area
2) ARM module
3) MODEM module
About (2) and (3) most of you already know a lot, as flashing a phone with a recent software version means that you get both areas re-programmed. Have in mind that you cannot re-program only the ARM part or only the MODEM part. If their SW versions differ, then the phone simply won't work.
GDFS area is the key to most software brandings that are not affected in any way thru the phone menu (excl. the situation when you're provided with network unlock codes and enter them manually via the service menu >*
This special area (called GDFS area) holds few but really important things:
1) Network/Subset/Service Provider/Corporate codes/locks
2) Menu Design (like special menus / Battery / Channel Info / etc.)
3) Menu Options (like DATA accounts/WAP profiles/menu items)
4) IMEI code
5) Original pictures, sounds, themes
Once you get the GDFS programmed with the original (non-branded) SE version, your phone becomes exactly like as if it was customized only by Sony Ericsson for the end user.
Unlocking the phone means resetting this area of the GDFS area which holds information about (1). Doing anything with the area that holds the IMEI code (4) is
illegal and in some countries you will be prosecuted.
I believe most of the online-flashing servers support all of these options. I never used such. I go to a friend who has all the equipment needed to do this.
I don't think that Vodaphone or any other brand on the market has such hardware lock which is not possible to be unlocked.
I also believe that rumors about IMEI locked Vodaphone handsets is just a rumor - nothing real.
I hope this helped and cleared the subject as well.
Dean K
p.s. It is not true that 13sec. trick on T68i removes any of the preset WAP profiles/Data accounts. It may very well remove some themes and pictures (not all) but that's about all. Please make difference between WAP/DATA settings uploaded to the phone by a retailer or an mobile operator and those permanently (until you reprogram it at least) stored in the GDFS area. No matter how hard you try (master reset or 13sec. trick) you won't get these cleared.
p.s.2 Once you get GDFS area restored to SE original one, you don't get your phone almost de-branded, but FULLY debranded.
_________________
[ This Message was edited by: dean on 2003-08-12 12:23 ]
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Posted: 2003-08-12 13:08:57
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Quote: p.s.2 Once you get GDFS area restored to SE original one, you don't get your phone almost de-branded, but FULLY debranded
Thanks Dean!
It is nice to see a post from someone who knows what he's talking about.
Pay Attention pleber/masseur!
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Posted: 2003-08-12 14:57:59
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Quote:
On 2003-08-12 14:57:59, pensasuhr wrote:
[snip]
Thanks Dean!
It is nice to see a post from someone who knows what he's talking about.
Pay Attention pleber/masseur!
pensasuhr, what have pleber/masseur done to offend?!
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Posted: 2003-08-12 15:07:53
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@pensasuhr:
I hope you've learned something from the long post. And I hope more people will read it and learn something, like I did while reading esato for more than an year.
I just did not dare to register and start posting here until few weeks ago, but now I'm happy to be a part of this society!
I highly appreciate the participance and the advices that masseur and pleber and wrat and a lot of other cool guys share with us!
Thank you guys!
Dean
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Posted: 2003-08-12 15:20:49
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Yep, thanks to all of you guys.
But, Dean, just to annoy you al little bit, if I want to turn my voda-phone into a regular phone, using the sonyericssonserver program
at my own risks, then what I want to "flash" is the gdfs, right?
Because my phone is not locked to any network, just customized.
Sorry to keep asking, but I guess a lot of people come to esato trying to find an answer / solution to this particular matter!..
Thx again
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And by the way, you disagree with the fact that a phone that is "re-turned" to normal with the sonyericssonserver program cannot be upgraded at
SP to the later SW versions? i.e. the IMEI is not in any way voda-proprietary, so the phone does not accept only voda upgrades?
[ This Message was edited by: fcd on 2003-08-12 15:06 ]
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Posted: 2003-08-12 16:03:34
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Quote:
[cut]
if I want to turn my voda-phone into a regular phone, using the sonyericssonserver program
at my own risks, then what I want to "flash" is the gdfs, right?
Yep! You need to restore the original gdfs area. I have it in a file and I can send it to you, but I doubt you will make any use of it. It is about 1MB zipped.
Quote:
And by the way, you disagree with the fact that a phone that is "re-turned" to normal with the sonyericssonserver program cannot be upgraded at
SP to the later SW versions? i.e. the IMEI is not in any way voda-proprietary, so the phone does not accept only voda upgrades?
Nope. As you said it, if you "return" your vodafone to normal (like I did) you won't have any troubles to upgrade to any later version of the original SE software nor will have troubles to upgrade it to a branded version, be it vodafone, t-mobile or other of your choice
There is nothing which should block such reprogramming.
It is another story if you bring your phone to a
service center. If it is already de-branded, most-likely the guys there will upgrade it with a de-branded version but not vodafone for example - as you know, Vodafone sells not-customized handies as well
so, in fact, the guys at the
center would not know if you bought a brand new voda-branded phone or a phone with the Vodafone logo and no internal customization.
In brief: if you change all three areas (GFDS/ARM/MODEM) you can make your phone to look as you like, provided you have the original files, be it SE-Original, Voda-Original ... etc...
Dean
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Posted: 2003-08-12 16:34:29
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