debranding - worth the effort? is there an easier way?

[jamena]

I have a w850i, previously on Orange with the relevant branding gumph. It's now unlocked and I've move to an o2 contract with a view to keeping the w850 as my phone for another year or so. I've got (I think!) the sms and WAP access set up okay now and my number ported (finally! -reckon Orange were just being as frustrating as possible really ...grrr) but there's still a fair amount of orange evidence here and there. I've read that I need to buy credits on one of two debranding programs (da vinci and something else that's name escapes me right now) to do this? Is there not a way I can just get clean SE firmware and put that on the phone without needing to register and pay wjhatever the small fee is?

any advice/experience appreciated!

[Funkstar]

I changed my K750 into a W800 using one of these services and it worked great.

I don't know of any other way to get the branding off. Many people find their phones are much more reliable when using a standard non network firmware. Some of the custom settings the operators add can cause problem with their own network never mind any one elses.

I'm toying with flashing my TyTn II with the generic firmware and removing the t-mobile branding. Although that is a lot easier and doesn't cost anything, it's all available on XDA-Devs. So that doesn't really help you. Sorry

[Vini]

Its easy. looks better. performs better and gives you more often than not features that networks remove.

Do it


Usually SEUS stops working after a debrand.

[jamena]

seems to have worked quite nicely - used SEUS to get it to the later CID (else I'd have had to pay for it with wotan etc) and put on the generic firmware. Now grappling with what applications are worthwhile. gmail, googlemaps, operamini...


trying to find bbc rss feed addresses and failing somewhat miserably though!

[HSK]

hmm i have one upstairs which i want to do this on aswell...any links or tips, or prgrams names? it would be much appreciated.

[gurpz1]

i debranded & unlocked my k800i from 3 using sekingserver and have too say worked great. only paid £10 fo 10 credits (each unlock is 2 credits) but debranding using thier client is absolutly free + all required files are in the program window ready for download

[jamena]

as far as I was aware the two main programs used for mobiles are davinci and wotanserver. There may well be others! I used wotanserver to debrand, seemed to work fine. It was all a little bit of an effort to work out exactly what all the (3 or 4) options were but it seemed to work straightforwardly enough!

I used the SEUS, downloaded from the SE website to update my mobile to the latest (orange-branded) CID/firmware and then used wotanserver (1 credit per debrand, approx £5 per credit bought through paypal) to debrand. The update CID help wasn't very clear wrt wotan which is why I did it through SEUS in the end ...which was free!

just remember to back up all you contacts, pictures, sms, calender, etc, etc as the phone gets entirely wiped. my phone was unlocked already.

not a -massive- difference but certainly enough to be noticed. And no dodgy orange-"enhanced" things anywhere


edit: loads of info coming from this "petegraham" guy, mainly to do with davinci though
Sony Ericsson W850i Walkman Phone - Support Forum - eXpansys UK

[mightymouse]

DavinciTeam.com - Welcome on our Site.....

check this out, i paid 5 euros or 10 dont remember, when they first started out to debrand my w850i and got flash menus but it depends on whether yours is the old cid49 or 51 if its the older one then it will debrand and you will get the flash menus otherwise it wont make much different

[HSK]

cheers guys, i'll check it all out...mines on the 3 network.