...or at least I hope that this is possible. I really don't want to take the old advice which says "buy a Japanese cellphone and stop worrying" as the MDA is hard to replace and after "teaching" it how to read and write Japanese there's nothing I'd really miss just keeping it. Against the myth you can get standard SIM cards in Japan, too and the only critical point would be the wireless standard used in Japan. The Phone tab say that it supports WCDMA, but I read before that this is not true for every Japanese provider. Softbank (Vodafone) is said to be compatible to the European UMTS standard. Can anybody here validate this? It would safe me a lot of money getting a decent Japanese cellphone as my "brick" still has a year or two of life in it
Yes the Universal works in Japan. At least in most places... it seems to lose the signal in the middle of a subway tunnel but gets it back quickly at the station ;P
I think our 'bricks' will be around a lot longer than that as they don't seem to be giving us a direct replacement :¬D
That's great news, but which provider do you use eksekki? Softbank? Or maybe it doesn't really matter after all? And we're not talking about the Japanese Universal here, right? And about the direct replacement: Is the 'Omni' really vaporware? I always had my hopes up for that one...
SB/Vodafone + Universal works. As for any other operator, if you can get a SIM card that fits into Universal I really don't see any reason why it wouldn't work(*). Hardware wise, I use (UK) Xda Exec brand but all the HTC Universal models are the same and there is no "Japanese universal" right (just ROM maybe)? No problems with different (English) ROM versions including WM6 - hence the "universal" =) There's just no replacement for this brick!
* edit: as long as they have a 2100 MHz WCDMA network :|
Any etra work needed?
I'm just calling back this thread from the ghosts to ask whether any extra steps are needed to use my Universal in Japan. I've seen a patch for the Hermes to use the Softbank AP, but I wonder: Shouldn't the Universal work straight out of the box if I pop in the Softbank card? Is it just because the AP password is hardcoded into the Japanese ROM? Speaking of which: What is the latest native Japanese (Softbank) WM5 ROM? The search didn't reveal anything. What kind of services will I miss if I just leave a Japanese enabled English WM5 ROM on the device? Would be great if someone could enlighten me a bit.
Related
I’ve done it, I’ve just ordered a T-Mobile MDA Vario, it should be here tomorrow, I cant wait!!!
I’m new to this forum and new to the world of Windows Mobile Devices, however I am far from a novice with SmartPhones.
I have been a big fan of SonyEricsson for many years and am currently looking for a new phone, but lately have lost my feel for SE and have discovered then marvel that is the Wizard!!! Wow, I’m so much going to have one of them!!!
I’ve been reading through this forum and well what can I say, what a fantastic resource, well done!
But what I really want to know is: software? I know the MDA Vario is T-Mobile branded, but what restrictions do they impose on you?
I’m a great believer that hardware developers know what they are doing and Phone Network Operators should leave the software well alone. I have read about unlocking the phone and moving Cab files etc, but what I would really want is to flash it with its “pure” software, is this possible and easy to do and how do I then set up my MMS and GPRS setting?
And am I correct in understanding what I’ve read, that, an out the box MDA Vario wont run ActiveSync?
Thanks in advance
Nick
Nick, an excellent choice of name, and an excellent choice of device
The units ROMs all seem to be largely the same, it's the extended ROM which is different.
T-Mobile's extended ROM installs a load of customisations such as wallpapers, GPRS settings, etc... Nothing seems to hinder you particularly badly , however if you don't want it, hard reset then do a soft reset before it installs the customisations. You then have a virgin machine
The only lock is a simlock, which means that you have to use a T-Mobile SIM with the device. Lokiwiz, a free unlocker, gets around this nicely with thanks to Machinagod, and all those whose work he improved
Oh, and activesync works fine with it, providing you haven't got any weird firewalls running
Welcome to the world of windows mobile
I have had my Vario for about a week and a half now.
If you used the P910 like I did, you will miss the jog wheel utility desperately. A brilliant device that was only let down by the lack of symbian (UIQ) development (it's harder to program.
I used to have a compaq 2210 and ran Pocketinformant. I've just reloaded it on my unit. It's brilliant, you give up a lot for the jog wheel but you welcome back the world of 'drag and drop' and 'double tap'.
If you use a PIM then Pocketinformant cannot be beaten.
Incidently make sure you load activesync 4.1 on your pc, providing you set your catergories in your outlook master list to the same as your device, syncing is superb.
good luck :lol:
I've just switched to Vodafone with an expansys contrct deal after four years with T-Mobile. They (T-Mobile) told me six weeks ago, they'd no idea what a Vario was, and had no information that they were going to get them even though Germany had announced them to the press. Expansys had the 9100 on Voda so off I went. The Vodafone "data" bundle which is SMS or MMS or GPRS out of the same pot is better for me than T-Mobile who would only offer web'n'walk *and* a separate SMS/MMS bundle :-(
Vodafone have been fine, but the SMS voicemail alerts that don't activate the little "tape" message waiting icon really annoys me... ;-)
Dox..
I have also gone from a P900 to XDA mini. Its a bit of a transition and can agree - the wheel on the P900 was a luxury I do miss but there are alot moe benefits
Now - just need to try and work out if I can change the whole ROM from the O2 one
Scott
Thanks for all the info fellas, cant wait for it to be delivered…
Excuse my ignorance, but, the ROM, is that the basic OS and the extender ROM is just the individual network customizations?
I will almost certainly, as a matter of principle, do the SIM unlock, but what is the purpose of the CID unlock?
And, if I do the Hard reset Soft reset trick how will I set up my GPRS and MMS?
Sorry about all the questions, but I’m very inquisitive.
Hopefully this will also be helping fellow novices.
Thanks again everyone.
You can enter the settings manually, which if you have them in front of you is fairly simple. If you need to know what they are (I've entered Vodafone's so often for people at work I can do them in my sleep, but don't know the T-Mobile ones), google is your friend. To simplify the whole thing, Raphael over at BeyondTheTech has the cab file with the settings in here for you to download and install as normal.
If you're not going to let the rest of the extended ROM install, put this on a memory card in case you want to run it again after a hard reset..
Dox.
I too like to have a fiddle (I had an original O2 XDA and this site was fantastic for upgrading to later version OS) but so far I can't see any compelling reason not to use the T-Mobile UK custo ROM as shipped.
The only addition I've made is MS Voice with the associated Reg change to allow use with BT headset.
Obviously if there is a superior ROM out there please let us know what is recommended?
Thanks
Nick, check out the wiki which has loads of info about roms, extended roms, radio roms and all that good stuff. Not a huge amount is specific to the Wizard yet, but the information applies all the same.
Has it arrived yet, or are you sitting by the front door like an eager puppy waiting for the postman or newspaper boy (or girl, thank you Stan)
Unfortunately I’m at work today and they would only deliver to my home address
AND they need a signature, so first thing tomorrow morning I’ll be stud outside my local Postal Depot waiting for it to open…..
Oh I hate waiting!!!
Welcome to Vario-ness !
Not coming from a previous PPC platform, you won't suffer the same way i did, by installing all the apps i used on my MDA Compadt some of which may not have been compatable with WM5. That ended up with me having a poor view on the Vario.
Fear not though, i've since seen the error of my ways, thanks to the fine folks on this forum...
I have an XDA II, and would like to update if there is a significant improvement.
I have read from the t-mobile site that the Vario does not have vibrate or voice dialling. Is this true, can Fonix be installed?
The most vital things I use are the outlook contacts, calender, isilo reader and avant go. I guess all standard apps that work on windows mobile 2003 work on 5 right?
How big is the screen?
Thanks for any help.
Well, that just goes to show that T-Mobile don't have a clue, really, doesn't it? I thought you must be mistaken, but sure enough it says that it doesn't support voice dial, and doesn't vibrate either.
It does. On both counts. The vibrate is a lot better than the xda2s in that it almost dislocates a hip when it goes off, and voice dialing works very well. With a quick registry hack, voice dialing works with bluetooth headsets too
Some have found the vario sluggish in comparison to the xda 2; i find it to be comparable to the blue angel (2s) that I had running wm2005 - bear in mind you're reading/writing all files from flash rather than RAM, and that explains the performance.
The screen is 2.8 inches diagonal.
Have any of you got vibrate working on M3000 (Orange)?
I have an M3000 from Orange Switzerland, and cannot get my vibrate to work at all.
Not to get 'off topic' but T-Mobile Czech republic were about to sell me a MDA Vario and at the last moment I noticed a sticker on the box saying it doesn't support character recognizer or transcriber .. anyone know if this FOR ME huge negative can be reversed so I can handwrite sms as MDA II let me .. (perfect solution for me)
kgary said:
Not to get 'off topic' but T-Mobile Czech republic were about to sell me a MDA Vario and at the last moment I noticed a sticker on the box saying it doesn't support character recognizer or transcriber .. anyone know if this FOR ME huge negative can be reversed so I can handwrite sms as MDA II let me .. (perfect solution for me)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both work fine for me on a UK MDA Vario, I don't know why the czech would be different. I must say however that I rarely use them because the slide out keyboard is SO sweet.
On a side note, my brother just picked up the same phone on O2 and personally I like the O2 customisations a lot better than the T-mobile ones. Especially the multiple today screen functionality.
Is it possible to install O2 extended rom and keep t-mobile comms settings? I've only just started to look into this so does anyone with any experience with this have any tips?
Thanks
I know Dopod 900 and other 3G phones can be used in Japan as long as you have a 3G enabled SIM card from your home telco. How about the new U1000? If I buy one in Singapore can I use it during my trips to Japan? This is a major purchase decision point so please help if you can. Thanks!
I can confirm it works. And you need to use a handfree to make call. I used 3HK and CSL SIM card in Japan and works just fine.
jameshuang said:
I can confirm it works. And you need to use a handfree to make call. I used 3HK and CSL SIM card in Japan and works just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you make a GPRS / internet connection with the Dopod U1000 in Japan?
Yes. It works just fine. No problems.
k_kirk said:
Yes. It works just fine. No problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's good news. Could you please tell me how you set up the GPRS connection?
Edit: oops , I see, you are not using a Japanese service, like Softbank, or NTT. I am still trying to find out whether it's possible to use an unlocked Athena with a Softbank SIM card. I know the it would work as phone, but how to set up the GPRS connection would be the problem.
chainbolt said:
That's good news. Could you please tell me how you set up the GPRS connection?
Edit: oops , I see, you are not using a Japanese service, like Softbank, or NTT. I am still trying to find out whether it's possible to use an unlocked Athena with a Softbank SIM card. I know the it would work as phone, but how to set up the GPRS connection would be the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I use Singtel and use roaming when I'm in Japan. My SIM has the 3G service activated. I hope you can find a telco offering service in Japan. Good luck.
Using Dopod 900 3G PPC in Japan
Hi! Can anyone tell me how to get the Dopod 900 I bought in Malaysia to work here in Japan? Sales clerks are telling me it's not possible. Dopod's site doesn't offer any help. Thanks a lot. I plan to be here for a month or more so it will really help to find out what's true and possible.
Yes I can confirm it works too.
Professorredbag said:
Hi! Can anyone tell me how to get the Dopod 900 I bought in Malaysia to work here in Japan? Sales clerks are telling me it's not possible. Dopod's site doesn't offer any help. Thanks a lot. I plan to be here for a month or more so it will really help to find out what's true and possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it does. As far as I understand if it supports 3G then it should technically work in japan. Too bad I no longer have my Dopod 900 with me to test it out.
Dopod 900 Woes in Japan
Thanks for your replies. The problem is I want a Japanese sim card and number not the roaming services from Malaysia as I have temporarily moved. This what sales clerks are telling me is not possible. They say I must have a Japanese made handphone. !!?? I know they are protectionist here but surely there is a way around the obstacles.. Any specific suggestions? really appreciate your help!
What I know
I am really interested in this too, as I plan on getting an Athena soon. However, I know that you don't need a "Japanese made handphone". They don't like people using different phones on their network, but they can't really stop you.
Well, they probably can technically stop you, but it is highly unlikely that they will. The reason the sales clerk is telling you it is impossible is probably because there are almost NO unlocked phones in Japan. 99.99% of all phones sold here are branded and locked to a specific carrier.
I am a Hermes user and bought my Hermes through Softbank, a carrier here in Japan. I have since reflashed it hundreds of times and have never had a problem with connecting to the network. I also know others on this board who are Kaiser users who have imported their Kaisers from other countries and are using them on Softbank's system with no problems. There was also a big interest in the mobile device geek community of Japan in the Treo 700w when it first appeared, and I have seen blogs of Japanese guys who have got that running on Softbank's system. So it IS definately possible to run non-Softbank phones on Softbank's network provided you have a valid Softbank SIM.
Some caveats:
I have never seen any carrier here just selling SIMs. You will more than likely have to purchase a phone to get a SIM card.
Voice and SMS (text) should work automatically just by popping in the SIM. Data and MMS are more difficult.
Data
There are two ways of connecting to Softbank's data servers, and each is charged differently. One method uses a public access server, but the charges for using this are quite high. This is the server used for people connecting laptops using cellular modems. The other method allow access under Softbank's tiered and capped system, which is the much cheaper and safer option. The connection settings to access this system are very closely guarded and no one to my knowledge has been able to hack them.
However, there is a workaround. See here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=298031
The problem with this workaround is that it requires a program called WIFIwake.exe. And it just so happens that WIFIwake.exe is coded specifically for different machines. On the link above, there is a version for the Universal and a version for the Hermes (the U and H in the .zip file names). Valued member Chaimd hex-edited a file to make it work for Kaiser: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=328362&highlight=softbank&page=3. And he seemed to think it was a pretty easy job. If asked nicely, he might be able to hex-edit one for Athena too - or not. I don't know.
MMS
MMS is also more difficult to set up. Basically, it requires a program called MMSLite which can be quirky. The only way to know for sure whether it will work with Athena is to try and see I think. And it does NOT work on WM6.1 systems, so you will have to decide between MMS + WM6 or NoMMS + WM6.1. This is the big reason I am thinking of buying the 7501 rather than the 7510.
After some research...
... on some Japanese sites, it seems that a CID unlocked Athena can use the WIFIwake.exe file meant for the Universal.
Also, MMSLite seems to be working as well. So it seems that on the Softbank network at least the Athena can do it all.
Dopod Woes in Japan
Dear Larsuck,
I appreciate your investing so much time and thought to help me. I'm not even remotely savy enough to understand the complexities of your advice but I do gather that buying a Japanese phone is inevitable. Any suggestions for the cheapest? as I'll just use it for local calls and carry my laptop with me when I need other connectivity.
Professorredbag said:
Any suggestions for the cheapest? as I'll just use it for local calls and carry my laptop with me when I need other connectivity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? So you have decided not to the the Athena? There are tons of really cool phones over here that can do many, many different things - but none of them compare to WM in that they aren't as customizable. Go to the Softbank website (English: http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/ ) and check them out.
However, if you want to get the Athena, here are two choices:
1) Get the Athena, come to Japan, get a cheap phone (cheap in the relative sense) here, take the SIM card out of it and put it in the Athena. Do some research on this site and get the Athena up and running. Keep the cheap phone just in case the Athena dies.
2) Get the Athena, come to Japan, get an expensive but slightly subsidized phone, unlock it and sell it on ebay. Use the sim card in your Athena and hope it doesn't die.
Gentlemen / ladies
first off i would like to thank this site for all its help so far , i have installed colonels rom and i am delighted with it , however i have a small question.
i purchased the sprint mogul while visiting the states last week as i needed a pda and it seemed to fit all my desires , however upon bringing it home i noticed that there was no simcard slot so i cant use it here in Ireland (we seem to be a bit behind the times ) spoke to a rep here and i was told the simcard is inbuilt and it would need to go back to htc to be changed , now that isnt really feasible at the moment so i was wondering if it was possible for me to change it out or if that is even possible , i dont mind taking it apart but i can find no info on where the sim goes or if there even is one , sooooooo just wondering is it possible ?
thanks again for all the help i have recived from other threads on upgrading and thanks to the colonel for releasing a class rom
regards
To the best of my knowledge, CDMA phones don't use sim cards at all. I could be wrong.
excaliburhc said:
Gentlemen / ladies
first off i would like to thank this site for all its help so far , i have installed colonels rom and i am delighted with it , however i have a small question.
i purchased the sprint mogul while visiting the states last week as i needed a pda and it seemed to fit all my desires , however upon bringing it home i noticed that there was no simcard slot so i cant use it here in Ireland (we seem to be a bit behind the times ) spoke to a rep here and i was told the simcard is inbuilt and it would need to go back to htc to be changed , now that isnt really feasible at the moment so i was wondering if it was possible for me to change it out or if that is even possible , i dont mind taking it apart but i can find no info on where the sim goes or if there even is one , sooooooo just wondering is it possible ?
thanks again for all the help i have recived from other threads on upgrading and thanks to the colonel for releasing a class rom
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh, for in Ireland you have a paperweight. There is no CDMA outside North America. There is no sim in the Mogul, and nothing in it can be reprogrammed to make it work on GSM. The entire radio portion of the phone is made for CDMA and specifically Sprint.
Sorry, but you'd be better off ebaying it and getting a GSM device.
ScottC said:
There is no CDMA outside North America.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To my knowledge, this statement isn't entirely true, as I believe that South Korea and maybe China has CDMA networks...but I could be wrong...
Everything else you stated is right on though!
Oh boy.
In a nutshell:
2 major types of wireless protocols:
GSM and CDMA.
GSM is a sim-card based allowing phone portability, and exists on a world-wide market. The sim card contains your identity, and switching it into another phone causes your identity to follow.
CDMA is phone-based, meaning every phone has a unique ID that broadcasts to the tower. That ID (sort of like the VIN number on a car) exists on only your phone, and represents your ID on the network. This actually existed long before GSM and SIM-cards, and is at a bit of a disadvantage because you can't switch phones whenver you want. Your provider has to switch it for you.
Here in the US, we have both CDMA and GSM networks now, however CDMA has been around longer, and so it is still arguably the more common technology. Lately, GSM has been catching up, but over in Europe GSM has always been around and CDMA is virtually non-existant.
Living in Ireland, I beleive that all networks are GSM, which means SIM-card based. So, you probably didn't know that there were other types of technology that weren't compatible! If anything, we here in the US are "behind the times" because we're still using an antiquated ID system as opposed to SIM cards!
HTC makes a GSM version of these devices as well, which you should consider. They are known as the Tytn and the Kaiser (our Mogul/Titan sort of comes in between, although most closely resembling the Kaiser in hardware). Next time you want to buy a phone in the US, make sure its GSM and unlocked first!
Hope this clears things up!
You should have 30 days to send back the mogul and get out of your contract. The phone will not work outside of North America. Take a look at the HTC Kaiser,its also sold as the AT&T Tilt. Its a GSM device that is very similar to the Mogul.
If you told Sprint that you were going to be going back to Ireland, I wonder why they didn't sell you the Samsung IP-830W, which works on the Sprint CDMA network in the states, but can be used on GSM/GPRS networks everyplace else.
If you can't get a full refund, maybe you can exchange the Mogul for that?
I think it's a little behind the times, but the IP830 is a pretty good phone and has a smaller slide out QWERTY keyboard.
thank you for the information , just need to find that damn receipt now and give radioshack a call , see about a swap for the tilt ,
regards
sigghhh
well it seems radioshack cant help . unless i brought it back to the store i purchased it in , and that cant really happen .
anywhoooo thanks all for the help ,
but i have just one other ,
is it possible to synq my titan with another type of phone i.e nokia 6610 and have the titan act as the handsfree ? via bluetooth?
basically like the satnavs where you have the dialer but it uses your phone to connect , seems like a strange request but this would at least allow me to use the phone features
thanks in advance
Does anyone know for certain that the 3G features of the HTC Dream will work on the Three network in the UK? From what I've read, it sounds like Three operate on 2100MHz, but I wondered if anyone could enlighten me. I tried searching, but the forum refuses to search for the word "three", as far as I can tell, which makes this query particularly hard..
Thanks.
I use it with a Tre ITA SIM and it works correctly... I think that it's the same kind of frequency, but I'm not sure
Oh, also: if a network-unlocked European version works, would the unlocked Android Dev Phone 1 (i.e. from America) work?
Hi,
Posted this on the Hero page, but thought I'd open it out to the wider Dev community....
Has anyone found a way to enable ALS for Android? This is a GSM standard that is seldom used by operators - Orange being the only UK operator to offer it (to Business users only now).
Am reliably told (Orange tech and also searching/googling here/elsewhere) it isn't supported by default on the Hero, but then there are many things that don't work on stock operator ROMS, aren't there?........
If someone could give me a definitive answer I would be most grateful - preferably before the return bag arrives from Orange! Happy to flash, tweak and generally frig around if I can keep my shiny Hero....
Will Radio/ROM fix this
Update:
Since this post, I have heard that this facility works on the 3 network in Sweden. Does anyone know which ROM is in use on this operator/region? Better still, how does it compare to the Orange UK ROM (i.e. is it newer?). I am hoping that a newer ROM/Radio may have ALS support fixed/enabled.
So, once again - can any of the cooks help?