Vodafone debranding issues

[adsl3g]

Hi all

The debate re Vodafone branding continues on this forum judging from the number of posts that are created re wanting to get rid of vodafone branding.

My experiences re the vodafone branding and the receipt of MMS videos is a shlep. V3G will remember that when I received my N70, Nokia u/graded the software to the generic Nokia software not vodafone branded.

At this point I should mention that I use a Nokia camera at home for security purposes. It is set on motion detection and when movement is detected it sends me an MMS video. After debranding the N70, the MMS videos were displayed incorrectly as in a thumbnail video (1cm large) which is useless as little or no detail can be seen. Through the help of V3G, Vodacom swopped my N70 for a new phone with updated vodafone software on it.

This was fine until Nokia brought out the nokia updater software on their site. I did an upgrade on my N70 and through some fluke, the vodafone branding was removed and the generic nokia software was loaded on the phone. This software works much faster than the current vodafone software however the MMS video problem re-appeared.

At this stage, I also want to mention that the vodafone software is not as up to date as the generic nokia software/firmware hence the better response on my old N70 with the generic nokia software.

I left it at that as I was in the market for an E70 anyway. Once I got my E70 (which is not supported by Vodacom although there are APN settings on their site) the MMS video problem persists on this new phone as the software on the E70 is not vodafone branded.

I may mention that when using any other service provider’s sim (MTN or Virgin) in any of the 2 phones, the MMS videos display correctly in full screen.

Somehow something in the vodafone software is causing non vodafone branded phones from not displaying these MMS videos correctly when using a Vodacom sim card. Even using MTN or Virgin sims on my previous vodafone branded N70 displayed the MMS videos correctly.

Currently I have set the security cam to send the MMS video to my N70 which has a Virgin sim in it to be able to see what is going on when the motion detection is activated at home.

I thought I should post this for people who rely on MMS videos for whatever reason and considering removing the vodafone branded software on their phones. It appears that the APN’s for the vodafone branded phones are set up specifically for the vodafone software/firmware and using generic software/firmware causes these hassels.

Previous post in this regard: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=574295&postcount=1

 

[JimM]

Technically speaking there is no such thing as Vodafone software.

Nokia phones have:

MCU = Operating System
PPM = Post Programming Module (language pack etc)
CNT = Content Pack - This will have branding in it.

So just by flashing a new CNT file you should be able to re-brand your handset.

I do tend to agree on the APN theory because everything else is just cosmetic.

Nokia handsets are best Factory Reset after any software upgrade.

 

[JK8]

Ok so how many people have motion sensors in their homes? - Not many.

As for the MMS they work fine before and after branding, on SE anyway. I still feel Voda should allow non branded handsets to be sold, and another bad thing about Vodafone is the colours of phones, if Vodafone decides on a specific colour of handset, the SPs like Vodacom will only sell that colour. SO anyone wanting a Blue or Pink SE Z610 cant have it coz Voda doesnt have it!
Same with the brown, Silver K800, White and pinkish N73 etc etc.

 

[adsl3g]

Ok so how many people have motion sensors in their homes? - Not many.

True which is why I'm screwed... will be forced to port once my contract expires

As for the MMS they work fine before and after branding, on SE anyway.

My old V800 also has an issue after debranding - does not show the MMS vid at all but that phone has been retired so I'm not worried .

 

[JK8]

True which is why I'm screwed... will be forced to port once my contract expires



My old V800 also has an issue after debranding - does not show the MMS vid at all but that phone has been retired so I'm not worried .

Oh that V800 the worst branded phone ever!! DRM etc etc etc!

 

[Nod]

Wouldn't it be more help to contact Nokia regarding the MMS issue? If you used released firmware, then they will have to support you, right?

 

[JK8]

Or maybe without the Vlive branding you just have to zoom into the video to make it full screen??

 

[adsl3g]

Wouldn't it be more help to contact Nokia regarding the MMS issue? If you used released firmware, then they will have to support you, right?

Nokia in SA? - it will be easier to try and get Telkom to resolve the issue!! Besides, the APN's from Nokia's site have the same hassels - I put it down solely to the APN's being specifically written for a phone with vodafone branding. Why else will MTN and VM display the images correctly.

One question, does the N80 have vodafone branding on VC?

BTW - I tried the N80 APN on the E70 via vodacom's website but still nothing.

Oh and JK8 - you cannot zoom a pre recorded video - even rotating and playing in landscape full screen does not solve the problem.

Resolution when received with VC sim is 352 x 288 ( the vid is 176x144 hence the small thumbnail image being shown - the rest of the view area is white)
Resolution when received via MTN and VM is 176x144 - full screen.

 

[bernardlinde]

Debranding Sony Ericsson K850i

I can just state that debranding my K850i was the best decision and move I have made with this phone. Had quite a bit of schlepp having it done, but having simple functionality return (Such as sending contacts as SMS or MMS or through Bluetooth as opposed to ONLY MMS or Bluetooth), makes life a bit easier. Also with the current disaster of the banners while surfing and us having to disable proxies - much easier on a debranded phone.

And obviously I can now update my software through the Sony Ericsson Update Service.

I really hope that Vodacom will somewhere in the future offer us the choice of whether be prefer the branded or non-branded versions of handsets.