From what I've read, I understand that O2 PAYG phones are all branded, despite not all being locked. Does anyone know if it's just a matter of flashing a stock ROM to debrand them, or would one have to do anything else to 'trick' the ROM updater into thinking it's a generic phone (I remember having to do this with my Desire)?
Is there any difference in terms of how easy it is to debrand, between the locked and unlocked phones.
I'd be thrilled if somebody knew the answers to my questions. Thanks.
Check the dev forum.
You debrand your O2 with no backup of original O2 rom what you going to do for warranty . Its very obvious branding walk into O2 shop turn phone on and its not O2 phone .
jje.
Return it and buy sim free you won't regret it
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
vimto25 said:
Return it and buy sim free you won't regret it
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But how much more for sim free
my O2 is unlocked and apart from the O2 Branding at boot no sign of O2 .
However i never mess with a phone until i have a backup of original firmware as safety .
jje
JJEgan said:
But how much more for sim free
my O2 is unlocked and apart from the O2 Branding at boot no sign of O2 .
However i never mess with a phone until i have a backup of original firmware as safety .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello
Sim free
play.com £499 free del
Handtec and Expansys seem tobe around the £515 - £520 + del
Clove want £528
so around £100-£120 mark extra .... Is it worth the extra ££ tho
pigglett said:
Hello
Sim free
play.com £499 free del
Handtec and Expansys seem tobe around the £515 - £520 + del
Clove want £528
so around £100-£120 mark extra .... Is it worth the extra ££ tho
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
could you please explain why the extra £100 are justified? im indecided if to buy the o2 branded gs2 or the sim free gs2. i understand that debranding voids warranty but wouldn't it be sufficient to load the original o2 firmware before taking it back for service? how would they know that it has been debranded? in any case, wouldn't it be better to take it directly to a samsung center for service instead? i don't think they would refuse service. if you take the phone to another european country for example they would service it because it has european warranty regardless of brand or no brand.
If you are someone that likes to use custom roms then it will be removed once you flash 1. If you don't then you just have to live with it or buy sim free which most have done, you could possible sell it for around 450 easy on ebay as some 1 selling them for 500 on 02.
JJEgan said:
But how much more for sim free
my O2 is unlocked and apart from the O2 Branding at boot no sign of O2 .
However i never mess with a phone until i have a backup of original firmware as safety .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Technically de branding only voids warranty /SOG with the seller but as long as it has a Samsung Stock rom that matches current firmware Samsung warranty holds .
jje
Related
How / Where / Who can Unlock the SGII from networks like O2 etc in UK ?
O2 will unlock after 12 months otherwise you have to wait until unlocking is worked out after the phone has been launched .
jje
eddie21 said:
How / Where / Who can Unlock the SGII from networks like O2 etc in UK ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I work for o2 and as long as it is a contract phone and not pay as you go, you can unlock it anytime by either completing the online form (google o2 'unlockmyiphone') or by calling customer services and requesting them to fill out the form for you. It can take up to 14days for you to receive the code.
Failing that, there are numerous IMEI unlocking websites online who will send the code within 24hours for a small fee.
Regards.
lynxboy said:
I work for o2 and as long as it is a contract phone and not pay as you go, you can unlock it anytime by either completing the online form (google o2 'unlockmyiphone') or by calling customer services and requesting them to fill out the form for you. It can take up to 14days for you to receive the code.
Failing that, there are numerous IMEI unlocking websites online who will send the code within 24hours for a small fee.
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am presuming that it will not need unlocking to use a Giffgaff network sim as its part of O2 .
Three O2 shops today no stock and no idea if they will receive stock for launch 1st may .
jje
You could use a Rebel Simcard. It's not the best solution but it definately does the job. I used one on my Dell Streak when they were exclusive to O2.
I take it you're getting it as an upgrade direct from O2?
If not open a contract with O2 through Phones4U and you'll get an unlocked device
steve228uk said:
I take it you're getting it as an upgrade direct from O2?
If not open a contract with O2 through Phones4U and you'll get an unlocked device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is £399 with O2 but will probably be locked
I also asked a popular online unlocking firm what the chances are of unlocking this handset and this was their reply:
This should be no problem at all. That's because there's one main database for all European Samsung Android handsets. We have unlocked the Samsung Galaxy S from all 6 main UK networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if the database will work for SGS II. Anyone know?
I have no previous contract, so just buy o2 payg £399 & unlock £15? (Total=£414)
Why would anyone pay £499 unlocked ?
eddie21 said:
I have no previous contract, so just buy o2 payg £399 & unlock £15? (Total=£414)
Why would anyone pay £499 unlocked ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because at this stage, nobody is really sure that the 'unlock £15' part of the process will indeed work You could end up with a phone that will not currently work on the sim you may have ( I do understand you have no contract, so if you are happy with O2 payg, fill yer boots).
eddie21 said:
I have no previous contract, so just buy o2 payg £399 & unlock £15? (Total=£414)
Why would anyone pay £499 unlocked ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Vodafone HD2 came unlocked - that wasn't the problem. The killer was that because it was a Vodafone phone, it could only take updates from Vodafone, and their updates came months after the unbranded ones. Once the Devs got HSPL all sorted out then it wasn't so much of a problem, but that didn't happen overnight.
So be aware - it's not just the network locking that's an issue when you buy a phone from a network.
Moandal said:
My Vodafone HD2 came unlocked - that wasn't the problem. The killer was that because it was a Vodafone phone, it could only take updates from Vodafone, and their updates came months after the unbranded ones. Once the Devs got HSPL all sorted out then it wasn't so much of a problem, but that didn't happen overnight.
So be aware - it's not just the network locking that's an issue when you buy a phone from a network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the heads up. I think O2 don't mess around with their handsets. Only Orange, T-Mobile & Vodafone.
AaronUK said:
Thanks for the heads up. I think O2 don't mess around with their handsets. Only Orange, T-Mobile & Vodafone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was the same with the first batch of O2 HD2's only accepting O2 specific updates which they changed after the second batch went out as were getting too many complaints. Hopefully they've learned from this and will allow standard manufacturer updates from the start. This wasn't due to particular messing around it was due to the serial numbers being registered with the manufacturer as not being generic therefore updates were refused by them. I doubt Samsung are quite as good as HTC with the regular updates but always good to know you can update when it's available.
AaronUK said:
I don't know if the database will work for SGS II. Anyone know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a response I received from a query I made of an eBay seller in relation to unlocking the SGS2...
"This is GUARANTEE TO WORK because this code is directly from Samsung and it is permanent. After you unlocked it, you can do software update or anything you like and it will still be unlocked."
Sounds promising...
It does but would like to know for sure before buying.
lynxboy said:
I work for o2 and as long as it is a contract phone and not pay as you go, you can unlock it anytime by either completing the online form (google o2 'unlockmyiphone') or by calling customer services and requesting them to fill out the form for you. It can take up to 14days for you to receive the code.
Failing that, there are numerous IMEI unlocking websites online who will send the code within 24hours for a small fee.
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you say it can take 14 days for the code to arrive...is that normal or is it usually quicker?
Successful unlock?
Did anyone hear about any successful SGS2 unlock?
I also read in some places that when you buy PNG from O2 it is SIM free. This was the case when I bought an iPhone 4 when it came out. It was SIM free out of the box.
just either get CPW to price match which they are supposedly doing at £399, or waith two weeks as they are goint to that price soon.
This is very stupid from me but as with the SGS, would it be possible to retrieve the bml3.bak file and unlock?
I'm just assuming samsung is using the same method of hiding the Network Control Key.. maybe they're lazy..
entropia said:
Did anyone hear about any successful SGS2 unlock?
I also read in some places that when you buy PNG from O2 it is SIM free. This was the case when I bought an iPhone 4 when it came out. It was SIM free out of the box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u got iphone 4 from o2 and was sim-free?>
Hi
I'm looking at picking up a sgs2 phone from the three (3) store on a payg deal. I wanted to quickly check, I should be able to sim unlock this no problems right?
Also are there issues with debranding three versions?
Thanks
Sent from my HTC Magic using XDA App
Think so
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1064978
mine came unlocked. what i'm more interested in is if we can have the original three firmware from someone, so that we can slap unbranded one onto the phone and then revert back if we need to (like bringing it back to three in case of a fault or something like that).
If you can sim unlock the SGSII which others have managed via that thread, then why wouldnt you buy the o2 payg for 399 rather than the 3 version for 499.
(At least those were the prices 2wks ago)
My bad, Ive seen theyve taken it off PAYG
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Thanks All - I ended up getting one from Phones4U.
Turns out they have completely unlocked stock samsung devices without any bloatware. I thought this better than de-branding & unlocking etc.
Cost was the same, £499 but as it was stock I avoided the costs of unlocking etc.
ohmz55: Would like to have done this, but O2 stopped the deal.
Thanks
JohnBoy
andrej.marinic said:
mine came unlocked. what i'm more interested in is if we can have the original three firmware from someone, so that we can slap unbranded one onto the phone and then revert back if we need to (like bringing it back to three in case of a fault or something like that).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you post the product code and the firmware details (pda, csc, modem) I can try to get it.
johnboy00 said:
Thanks All - I ended up getting one from Phones4U.
Turns out they have completely unlocked stock samsung devices without any bloatware. I thought this better than de-branding & unlocking etc.
Cost was the same, £499 but as it was stock I avoided the costs of unlocking etc.
ohmz55: Would like to have done this, but O2 stopped the deal.
Thanks
JohnBoy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
O2 no longer offer it online, I was able to get one for £399 from O2 store just yesterday however. The guy in the shop did say he wasn't allowed to sell it on pay as you go but that he was just going to ignore that!
hi i'm considering getting the sgs2 to replace my htc desire, one question
does the sgs2 come with nfc if i buy the phone from o2, they say it has but just making sure before i buy it
If they say so...
I've got mine from o2 Germany and it is the normal international version without NFC.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Get it confirmed in writing from O2 before purchase .
NFC how to empty your wallet by just waving your phone in the air .
jje
i didn't think the uk version had nfc but they say it has, i don't want to buy the phone to find out it doesn't
Do what JJEgan said. Have them confirm it in a writing. If it turns out it has no NFC, you should be able to give it back. At least in Germany you would be able to get out of the contract.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
i'm buying on pay as you go
it doesn't say it has NFC here? http://shop.o2.co.uk/mobile_phone/pay_and_go/specifications/Samsung/Galaxy S II
when using the online chat they insist it definitly does
I got mine on contract with O2 uk and mine doesn't come with nfc. Im yet to see model in the uk with it.
Ricey
ricey1986 said:
I got mine on contract with O2 uk and mine doesn't come with nfc. Im yet to see model in the uk with it.
Ricey
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks when did you order
Got mine in august.
Ricey
thanks i still dont think it has
There are SGS2 with NFC just coming in by main dealers. Orange has the main bulk of them and Vodafone say they are getting their NFC soon which can mean any thing. If O2 say their handsets have it they are new batch but once again getting this in print or see the handset yourself in O2 store..
is there any way of telling if it has it if i buy instore
Well I've been in two minds weather to get the S2 or S3, I initially wanted a second hand S2 to get used to all the rooting and flashing ROMs and incase I brick it etc.
Anyway, to save a life story.
I have a chance to buy a new S3 for £300, 1 week old unused. The thing it she said it is an "unwanted upgrade" and that it came with no warranty.
She is on contract, I know if it got IMEI blocked I will phone police or whatever, but do you think it can get blocked from am unwanted upgrade?
and shouldn't contract phones still come with manufacturer warranty? is there anyway I can get it
No, highly unlikely.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
to be in safer side, get some sort of proof for your transaction
bala_gamer said:
to be in safer side, get some sort of proof for your transaction
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you think facebook messages would suffice?
I'll have her name/address aswell if anything goes bad.
@nodstuff, what's highly unlikely?
Also, it's locked to vodafone as it's contract. I know rooting can unlock it but is there any other way? I would rather have an official unlock
UrbanDesigns said:
Do you think facebook messages would suffice?
I'll have her name/address aswell if anything goes bad.
@nodstuff, what's highly unlikely?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That it will be imei blocked, if in doubt call the network and ask.
Unless they are lying and it is stolen, call the network is the safest way.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
nodstuff said:
That it will be imei blocked, if in doubt call the network and ask.
Unless they are lying and it is stolen, call the network is the safest way.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could I really call up Vodafone and discuss somebody elses contract?
I've also seen unlock codes on eBay for £6 which I would rather do then rooting it and unlocking (although I plan on rooting anyway)
So I assume they generate the unlock code from the IMEI and other info? Tons of people offer unlock service for a fee when there is actually a free program on the internet that generates one
UrbanDesigns said:
Could I really call up Vodafone and discuss somebody elses contract?
I've also seen unlock codes on eBay for £6 which I would rather do then rooting it and unlocking (although I plan on rooting anyway)
So I assume they generate the unlock code from the IMEI and other info? Tons of people offer unlock service for a fee when there is actually a free program on the internet that generates one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you can't talk about someone else's contract, what you can do is give them the imei number and ask if it is blacklisted.
Although reading your last reply i think what you mean is sim locked, and in that case it is very likely that it is sim locked.
There are plenty of places to get sim unlock codes to allow you to use it on other networks, in fact, the person on the contract may even be able to get it sim unlocked by asking Vodafone for the code.
If you stay on firmware pre-XXBLG1 you can use voodoo sim unlock to unlock it for free but in subsequent updates Samsung stopped that method from working.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
UrbanDesigns said:
Well I've been in two minds weather to get the S2 or S3, I initially wanted a second hand S2 to get used to all the rooting and flashing ROMs and incase I brick it etc.
Anyway, to save a life story.
I have a chance to buy a new S3 for £300, 1 week old unused. The thing it she said it is an "unwanted upgrade" and that it came with no warranty.
She is on contract, I know if it got IMEI blocked I will phone police or whatever, but do you think it can get blocked from am unwanted upgrade?
and shouldn't contract phones still come with manufacturer warranty? is there anyway I can get it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UNWANTED UPGRADE: A phone that you get from your carrier, usually for free, every 24 months of your contract, but you do not need it as you still enjoy your old phone.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING STOLEN, BROKEN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT!!!
Szadzik said:
UNWANTED UPGRADE: A phone that you get from your carrier, usually for free, every 24 months of your contract, but you do not need it as you still enjoy your old phone.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING STOLEN, BROKEN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking the unwanted upgrade would come with some kind of insurance, if she told her contractor she lost the unwanted upgrade I was thinking that it could got blocked by them (which I'm quite positive they can still do that, although I don't see how she would benefit)
I think asking her to ring up and get it unlocked is a little too much to ask, could I ring up after I've bought the phone?
UrbanDesigns said:
I was thinking the unwanted upgrade would come with some kind of insurance,
Not unless insurance is taken out on the phone or offered as part of the contract or even a free months trial with the phone .
Warranty is two parts .
One the seller warrants the phone for twelve months as per SOGA .
Two Samsung offer a limited 24 months warranty .
Phone given as an inducement to buy the contract then sold to you . Only warranty route is via the seller to you returning it under warranty .
Samsung warranty would not need the seller to return it but will Samsung ask for proof of purchase and is warranty valid for a second user .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JJEgan said:
UrbanDesigns said:
I was thinking the unwanted upgrade would come with some kind of insurance,
Not unless insurance is taken out on the phone or offered as part of the contract or even a free months trial with the phone .
Warranty is two parts .
One the seller warrants the phone for twelve months as per SOGA .
Two Samsung offer a limited 24 months warranty .
Phone given as an inducement to buy the contract then sold to you . Only warranty route is via the seller to you returning it under warranty .
Samsung warranty would not need the seller to return it but will Samsung ask for proof of purchase and is warranty valid for a second user .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I have proof of purchase but she said the unwanted upgrade did not come with any warranty sheet in the phone box. Don't you usually get a book with warranty information?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UrbanDesigns said:
Also, it's locked to vodafone as it's contract. I know rooting can unlock it but is there any other way? I would rather have an official unlock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In Australian, Vodafone has a free unlock website. It works only on high end phones and they can be unlocked the minute you get them. Unlocked plenty of Samsungs and iPhones through it.
Maybe Google Vodafone unlock to see if they have the same thing where you are.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Small leaflet or web statement.
Sales reciept will Samsung accept second user is the key .
jje
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sxi200 said:
In Australian, Vodafone has a free unlock website. It works only on high end phones and they can be unlocked the minute you get them. Unlocked plenty of Samsungs and iPhones through it.
Maybe Google Vodafone unlock to see if they have the same thing where you are.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mate!
Just spoke to one of their reps, they are going to get me a unlock code. It takes 5-7 days though which gives me enough time to check the features of the phone are working good.
JJEgan said:
Small leaflet or web statement.
Sales reciept will Samsung accept second user is the key .
jje
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am going to contact Samsung tomorrow, the previous owner hasn't even used the phone or even acknowledged the fact it comes with manufacturer warranty so hopefully I can still register it
i wiil think get a galaxy s3 of ebay i live in greece it says THE PHONE WILL NOT HAVE SERVICE IN THE UK. can i use it in greece
nikolas60 said:
i wiil think get a galaxy s3 of ebay i live in greece it says THE PHONE WILL NOT HAVE SERVICE IN THE UK. can i use it in greece
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thread moved to proper forum.
answer me plzzzzz
Which model... If it's not the international then no...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
international it is but is says THE PHONE WILL NOT HAVE SERVICE IN THE UK it will have in greece?
There's a good chance it will work, but nothing is guaranteed if it is network blacklisted in another country.
I had an i9100 that was blacklisted in Spain but worked fine in UK.
Unfortunately you can't tell until you try it!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
nikolas60 said:
i wiil think get a galaxy s3 of ebay i live in greece it says THE PHONE WILL NOT HAVE SERVICE IN THE UK. can i use it in greece
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who knows no service in UK reads as probably blocked phone that may be stolen .
jje
I'd be betting on the 'stolen in UK' scenario - and it's probably the thief selling it, which is why he knows it will not work there. It's possible it's another victim trying to offload their cost by selling it to another innocent, but I'd bet on the thief being the seller.
Stay away... if it looks too good to be true it probably is. And with the EU being so tightly joined, do you want to risk the cops arriving on your doorstep accusing YOU of stealing the phone? It may seem unlikely just for a phone, but what if it was stolen as part of a larger crime?
Hi,
The phone has been unlocked so you can use it with a Greece SIM card. You shouldn't have any problems, but if you do, I'm happy to refund you the money. that he answer me
nikolas60 said:
Hi,
The phone has been unlocked so you can use it with a Greece SIM card. You shouldn't have any problems, but if you do, I'm happy to refund you the money. that he answer me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's your risk, but if it is blacklisted because it is stolen, how can you trust he will pay you back?
i got lg optimus 4x a store in greece has put an offer on lg optimus 4x and i got that phone thanks for your help