Vodafone Branding - P990i in particular - Can we get rid of it?!!?

[PsyLenT]

I'd like to know if anyone can positively confirm some info about Vodafone's branding of phones.

I recently upgraded on Vodacom to a Sony Ericsson P990i. I had never had a Vodafone branded phone before, so I was blissfully unaware of the extent to which Vodafone screws things up. I also had no idea that the little Vodafone icon on the upgrade deal meant they were going to abuse my P990i.

What I'm unhappy with is that the phone's interface is totally different from the original, having Vodafone icons, in that HORRIBLE red and grey colour. There's no way u can see your standard wallpaper screen without menu's over it, unlike on the original. So I always have a cluttered screen. I can't as of yet find a place to personalize the '@' key on the side of my phone, though I've read this was possible in online reviews of the standard model.

But lastly, what annoys me most - is I cannot update my firmware from home using Sony Ericssons update tools online, as Vodafone has to release an update and I have to then send my phone in. This is RIDICULOUS.


SOOO what I'd like to know is, firstly, whether it is possible to get rid of this Vodafone cr4p! Secondly, what are the implications this will have to my warranty on the phone? It's an expensive phone I don't want to imagine paying thousands on repairs down the line. PLEASE if anyone has info - share!

 

[aqualung]

Try this

http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=132581....

 

[Tahir Ally]

I'd like to know if anyone can positively confirm some info about Vodafone's branding of phones.

I recently upgraded on Vodacom to a Sony Ericsson P990i. I had never had a Vodafone branded phone before, so I was blissfully unaware of the extent to which Vodafone screws things up. I also had no idea that the little Vodafone icon on the upgrade deal meant they were going to abuse my P990i.

What I'm unhappy with is that the phone's interface is totally different from the original, having Vodafone icons, in that HORRIBLE red and grey colour. There's no way u can see your standard wallpaper screen without menu's over it, unlike on the original. So I always have a cluttered screen. I can't as of yet find a place to personalize the '@' key on the side of my phone, though I've read this was possible in online reviews of the standard model.

But lastly, what annoys me most - is I cannot update my firmware from home using Sony Ericssons update tools online, as Vodafone has to release an update and I have to then send my phone in. This is RIDICULOUS.


SOOO what I'd like to know is, firstly, whether it is possible to get rid of this Vodafone cr4p! Secondly, what are the implications this will have to my warranty on the phone? It's an expensive phone I don't want to imagine paying thousands on repairs down the line. PLEASE if anyone has info - share!

The Vlive software on this phone only removes SonyEricsson online store where you can buy ringtones,etc.This competes with Vodafone.All the other features are still on the phone.
If you are not happy with the Vlive software.You can take your P990i to any Vodacare and they can load the original SonyEricsson software Free of charge.Dial 125VODACARE from your Vodacom phone to connect to your nearest Vodacare outlet

 

[PsyLenT]

I have to say that there is a major difference between the Vodafone branded version of the P990i (judging from hundreds of generic-version reviews I have read) and my experience with my Vodafone handset. One crucial thing that I noticed has very recently changed is the ability to update my firmware from home using SEUS but I am still unhappy with the Vodafone interface.

I will however take a chance and go to Vodaworld tomorrow to find out if they can and will revert my phone to generic Sony Ericsson interface, as the changes are beyond 'shopping links' for me, it's taken away some functions and changed the look of icons to the extent of which not even theme changes can fix it. The point of having a personal wallpaper is WASTED on the Vodafone version. I guess I'm throwing too much of a hype over this but it really does bug me. Will check out Vodacare & SE and let you know.

 

[aqualung]

Let us know if it works...

 

[Deckert]

The Vodafone branding breaks a few things on the phone. For example, the lower-lefthand application fast-start icon is completely disabled (you can still click it in the empty space, but it doesn't work).

This leaves a few apps unable to run (see some of the task managers already available for the P990i). The interface is generally slower and (as many have pointed out) the colour scheme not only sucks, its down right horrible and cannot be customized as much as the original SE interface can.

I've also found that many of the online-tutorials that are available for the P990i are useless with the Vodafone (VF) branding, because the VF menu's are so different.

A colleague of mine bought a VF-branded Motorola. The phone kept dropping calls - Vodacom blamed it on coverage in the area. When my colleague found a site that offers software that debrands phones, he immediately paid the 1 pound and debranded his phone. Now the phone is feature-rich, full colour, and doesn't drop calls anymore. So no, the VF branding is not only cosmetic.

We decided to go with MTN as a supplier for our P990 phones just because of the issues caused by branding.

Vodacom: fix your branding!

See here for more info on debranding and what branding breaks:
http://blog.mombe.org/general/k750vodaphone.html

--deckert

 

[MadAtter]

erk.... i know this may be going a tad off topic... but is there anyway i can debrand my Samsung ZV50? i've got a data cable and all... but i have no idea where to find its firmware and what not.
really dont wana mess up

 

[werner]

ok, lets forget the zv50 for the time being.

all sony erikson phones have 3 sections in their firmware

1) main flash files
2) language specific flash files
3) customization

vodafone will tend to only play with part 3 above

on the phone, do the following (the < and > refer to actions with the little joystick)

*>*<<*<*
then select service info, and selectsoftware info from the submenu
scroll to the bottom, and look for the line "cda...." under the customization tag

now, try find your cda number online, specifically at this site
www.topsony.com
(on the left, go to downloads, the bit with "members only") follow the prompts..username and password is included on the site
example list is here for w900
http://www.topsony.com/lista_cda_w900i.html

the SEUS service queries the cda number...if the cda number corresponds to "generic..." in the list at topsony, then SEUS will update the firmware. if it doesnt, it means the firmware is specific to your carrier and SEUS wont apply any update.

changing the main firmware, region files and customization is all possible using a proggy called gflash, and the data cable that came with the phone (think it is called DE-60 or something)


p.s. not sure if this applies 100% to w990, but it worked like a charm for me on my w800i a few weeks ago when i was in the mood for some messing around.
the customizations are just a bunch of xml files really, but reading and writing to the phone can only be done using gflash.

 

[privet]

Not at Vodaworld

If you are not happy with the Vlive software.You can take your P990i to any Vodacare and they can load the original SonyEricsson software Free of charge.Dial 125VODACARE from your Vodacom phone to connect to your nearest Vodacare outlet

A colleague of mine has one of these branded P990 and spent more than an hour at Vodaworld to get the poor phone unbranded at both the Voda shops and SonyEricsson itself. The result: waisted time! They are unable/uncapable/unwilling/choose_your_word of doing it.

So, if that is true, then someone should go and show them how/what to do...

 

[PsyLenT]

@werner

Sadly I don't see any UIQ3 phones listed on the site, so it seems those of us unlucky enough to have the vodafone branding are - for the meantime - still stuck with what we have.

 

[PsyLenT]

Just spoke to a guy at Vodacom Direct regarding the fact that I was supplied a branded phone, I complained that the phone's display was not the same as the picture, hehe.

Anyway he informed me that on the 9th the sent out communication that customers unhappy with the branding should be able to have their phones flashed to generic software in about 3 weeks from the send date. He recommended that I contact Vodashop/Vodacare centres just to find out if they already have the facility, but the 'official' date is 3 weeks - THERE IS HOPE!

 

[kaspaas]

What I don't understand is, is that VC has such a vigourous testing program before they approve a new handset.

But it seems as if this excludes the impact of the vodafone branding on the functioning of the handset and the ability of users to upgrade to the latest software.

 

[wantedz]

Got the same problem on a Blackberry 8700 with Vodafone branding. With the Vlive browser that is forced on the phone you can not access www.blackberry.com. It tells you to get a Blackberry browser. So you can not access any support or free downloads at www.blackberry.com. VC must get there act together on the re-branding because it starts to stink

 

[blue-eye-boy]

I wonder if vodacare will be able to debrand my Motorola V360v also?

 

[kingrob]

I wonder if vodacare will be able to debrand my Motorola V360v also?

You can 'debrand' the phone yourself.

I have reflashed my 'backup' black Motorola V3 - and now it does video recording as well + annoying themes deleted.

Go to www.motomodders.net and start reading + downloading.

*You will need the original Motorola data cable, pick it up at Vodaworld from the Motorola shop.

 

[JK8]

I wonder if vodacare will be able to debrand my Motorola V360v also?

They might not, if the phone has voda branding on the outside, they might not load the generic software, the P990 is not branded on the handset, so they can change the software.

K800 they will though.

 

[Satguy]

Make a stand now!

I received my VLIVE P990 two days ago and spent an entire day trying to get rid of VLIVE and get the P990 menu to appear as shown in the user manual and phone demo. I then phoned SE to see if I could get the original software reloaded, what a laugh.... no sorry we have a licence agreement with Vodacom, they are the only ones who can remove it. Okay, so plan B, phone Vodacare..... sorry there is no firmware that we can load on the phone, thats the way we supply it, be glad you even have a handset. Not one to give up easy... plan C.... place a complaint on Hellopeter. Action at last received a call from Vodacom who escalated the issue to Vodacom HQ and Vodacare. I have now been told to take my P990 into Vodaworld's Vodacare and they will reflash my phone with the original SE P990 firmware (takes 2 ~ 3 hours to do???) and get rid of the VLIVE cr@p. For those of you unfortunates who have already tried unsuccessfully at Vodaworld's Vodacare to have VLIVE removed, ask to speak directly to the workshop manager (name witheld), he knows all about the reflashing of the P990 VLIVE to generic - don't let the customer (un)care agent tell you it can't be done!

I guess you just have to make enough noise before someone listens. I urge all Vodacom users who have VLIVE branded phones to make an issue, give us the choice, a free phone is not really a free phone, you do end up paying for it, so why settle for the rubbish they supply us!

 

[kingrob]

I received my VLIVE P990 two days ago and spent an entire day trying to get rid of VLIVE and get the P990 menu to appear as shown in the user manual and phone demo. I then phoned SE to see if I could get the original software reloaded, what a laugh.... no sorry we have a licence agreement with Vodacom, they are the only ones who can remove it. Okay, so plan B, phone Vodacare..... sorry there is no firmware that we can load on the phone, thats the way we supply it, be glad you even have a handset. Not one to give up easy... plan C.... place a complaint on Hellopeter. Action at last received a call from Vodacom who escalated the issue to Vodacom HQ and Vodacare. I have now been told to take my P990 into Vodaworld's Vodacare and they will reflash my phone with the original SE P990 firmware (takes 2 ~ 3 hours to do???) and get rid of the VLIVE cr@p. For those of you unfortunates who have already tried unsuccessfully at Vodaworld's Vodacare to have VLIVE removed, ask to speak directly to the workshop manager (name witheld), he knows all about the reflashing of the P990 VLIVE to generic - don't let the customer (un)care agent tell you it can't be done!

I guess you just have to make enough noise before someone listens. I urge all Vodacom users who have VLIVE branded phones to make an issue, give us the choice, a free phone is not really a free phone, you do end up paying for it, so why settle for the rubbish they supply us!

Or just switch to MTN?

 

[PsyLenT]

Satguy - let us know how the Vodacare at Vodaworld process went, I will be in my car on my way to Vodacare in a heartbeat!

A question though, did they mention anything to you regarding warranty? And do you have to pay to have the phone flashed?

 

[jiteshraj]

Hi there guys. I have sum great news for everyone. After spending over an hour an Vodacare and explaining to the incompetent staff that vodafone has totally ruined the software on my m600i (p990's little brother-same OS-UIQ3), I finally spoke to the right person at their main technical department. I was told that the generic software(original SE) has just passed testing and vodacare WILL be able to flash ur phone. You will not lose your warranty. This probably applies to the p990 as well. I'm taking mine in on monday. Cheers guys