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> s700i package on vodafone - Good deal?
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Hi there,
I'm new here so I guess I should say hello first
Hello!
I'm looking into getting a new phone on contract (always had PAYG) and I think i've found a perfect package on vodafone. From what I've read vodafone aren't great but O2's packages are no where near as good and it's deffinately the S700i that I want.
From Vodafone's website:
S700i £150 initial cost, £18 a month, 100 Free minutes (cross network, landlines) 100 free texts a month for life and free weekend calls (landline, other vodafones.)
The only downside I can see to this package is that it's an 18 month contract. But still £150 and £18 a month seems a bargain.
What I would like to know is why are vodafone so bad, exactly how do they customise their phones, are they crippled and in what way and do other people think this is a good deal? How easy will it be to unbrand the phone and is this permitted within the contract?
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Posted: 2004-10-20 16:11:45
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Welcome to Esato
That is not a bad deal. If 100 minutes is enough for ya - Go for it
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Posted: 2004-10-20 16:14:14
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@Tychomatic
If you search through the forums you will find rather a lot of discussion on Vodafone branding, of various mobiles, but to summarise the main points for you;
Apparently you cannot use mp3 tracks as ringtones with Vodafone, although there seems to be a way around this now.
Vodafone Live! settings will have been programmed into the mobile and you will have a lot of Vodafone content.
There will no doubt be various Vodafone installed themes, pictures, etc, which you may not want.
There will be a Vodafone logo stamped on the mobile.
You will have to wait until there is an operator approved firmware upgrade available to upgrade your firmware whenever SE release upgrades as the normal SE firmware won't work.
There are probably a few other points too, but I think those are the main ones. If I have gotten any of the above points wrong, please, someone, feel free to correct me.
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Posted: 2004-10-20 16:24:00
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Thanks for the replies.
Yeah I had done a little reading into network customisations - I must say I think it's a dirty trend. Network locks were bad enough. Surely If you own the phone you are entitled to be able to use all it's features and disabling MP3 ringtones goes against this? I had read about the solution of DRM'ing the files. I don't know if I can do this on a Mac, that's the problem.
In 3/6 months time could I take me phone to phones4u/carphonewarehouse and ask for the latest firmware? Would this be free and would this unbrand the phone?
I'd much rather have a SIM free model, but the price of this phone is extremely high (too high in my opinion) This vodafone package appears very cheap!
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Posted: 2004-10-20 16:35:55
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At first it looks ok but after awhile so think I that you wanna go unbranded It happen to me
This message was posted from a K700i
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Posted: 2004-10-20 16:38:50
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@Tychomatic
Upgrading the firmware will not unbrand the mobile as it will be flashed with Vodafone firmware.
I'm not a huge fan of network branding hence why I bought my S700 on O2, who use very little branding.
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Posted: 2004-10-20 16:42:47
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Quote:
On 2004-10-20 16:42:47, scotsboyuk wrote:
@Tychomatic
Upgrading the firmware will not unbrand the mobile as it will be flashed with Vodafone firmware.
I'm not a huge fan of network branding hence why I bought my S700 on O2, who use very little branding.
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Posted: 2004-10-20 16:45:53
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Quote:
On 2004-10-20 16:45:53, liamski wrote:
Quote:
On 2004-10-20 16:42:47, scotsboyuk wrote:
@Tychomatic
Upgrading the firmware will not unbrand the mobile as it will be flashed with Vodafone firmware.
I'm not a huge fan of network branding hence why I bought my S700 on O2, who use very little branding.
hi - I got my VODA branded S700 yesterday for £100.
The guys make some good points, but just to clarify
- It IS possible to get rid of the software branding on the S700. There is lots of 'decustomisation' discussion on the forum you can search for, but effectively you need a special cable and some software (£20 total) which will do the job and revert the phone to a normal S700
- The deal you mention is decent, but i could have sworn the Vodafone website had a better deal than that for 100mins on a 12 month contract.
- DO NOT get a 18 month contract... phone technology changes quickly and you'll probably want the s700 mkII when it comes out next year, but wont be able to cos you are stuck on a contract for another 6 months
- Vodafone (direct, not via Singlepoint) are fine and the signal is great - better than O2, tmobile and Orange
good luck.,.. when I've done my s700 debrand, i'll let you know how it goes
L
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Posted: 2004-10-20 16:51:03
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The only problem with de-branding the phone yourself is that it voids the warrenty. If you have a fault with the phone the service centre would be within their rights to refuse a repair under warrenty.
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Posted: 2004-10-20 16:59:25
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@liamski
I am aware that a mobile can be de-branded, but it isn't everyone who wants to go down that route. I think the old saying of 'prevention is better than cure' is applicable here, I would rather not have to de-brand a mobile if I can buy one with little or no branding in the first place.
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Posted: 2004-10-20 17:01:56
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