Database Users

How to see if the phone is branded?

I had bought the legend from Vodafone. How can I see if the phone is branded? I don't have no Vodafone logo or something like that on it.
Sent from my HTC Legend using XDA App

I suspect that it's branded by Vodafone. Branded means that the sim card only for the given operator works on given phone. Branded phones also have some apps preinstalled by the network operator.
I've understand that the HTC announcment yesterday is a big deal ( and the reason for this topic ). For me to be honest is another more polite way to say "coming soon".

branded doesnt necessarily mean that the phone is locked to the carrier.
i got a vodafone branded legend and i can use it with any carrier. im not suer if its the same for all vodafone branded phones, but on boot i got a vodafone logo plus 2 vodafone apps installed i cannot remove.

Hmm I don't have the Vodafone logo on start up and no apps installed. Is there another way to see if the phone is branded? I received the OTA updates from the last 3 months though, no problem with that.
I'll try tomorrow an Orange SIM to see if the phone in locked to a network.

seems like they forgot to flash the firmware of your phone.
vodafone branded phones arent simlocked, im using a prepaid medion mobile sim and used free 5€ o.tel.o sims in the past (germany).
there are 2 vodafone apps on the homescreen and there is an other bootanimation (without bootsound) and a slightly diffrent widget positioning.
the internal browser has vodafone.xx as its default page. thats it.

Check your software version number (settings - about phone - software information). If you post that here we could tell you for sure if your phone is using a vodafone branded ROM.
Swyped from my HTC Legend using XDA App

2.10.178.1 is my software number... is that branded?

Apparently my ROM is a Vodafone AU rom, but I've got no boot logo of Vodafone apps. Wonder when I'll get Froyo then. Hmm.

2.05.405.2 is the software number. Do you need also the kernel version or build number?
Sent from my HTC Legend using XDA App

with smsbug? have you bought the device via ebay? maybe someone already removed every sign of the branding.

I have the same software number as in2ition. Mine came straight out of a vodafone store but doesn't have a vodafone boot logo or vodafone apps installed. Besides, the box in which I bought it, didn't have anything on it from vodafone either.
So I'm wondering if it's branded too. (?)
ps. And yes, it has the sms-bug.

Ran86 said:
I have the same software number as in2ition. Mine came straight out of a vodafone store but doesn't have a vodafone boot logo or vodafone apps installed. Besides, the box in which I bought it, didn't have anything on it from vodafone either.
So I'm wondering if it's branded too. (?)
ps. And yes, it has the sms-bug.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
identical situation

Your phone is not branded by the way. It was a faulty update that they didn't release everywhere because it caused that sms bug and broke many peoples wifi.
Hopefully they release Froyo for it for you soon

Using a Droid 2 in the UK...

Hi,
I really, really like the look of this phone and have found one in the US, Verizon Branded, for a good price.
My question is, will I be able to use it with a Vodafone UK Sim card without incurring any roaming charges etc...
I am happy to Root/Unlock etc if that is what is needed. I just need a 100% answer, yes or no.
Many Thanks.

It would have to be a Droid 2 Global
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium

No. The Verizon D2 WILL NOT work in the UK, or anywhere else. I live in Australia and i own one. It wont connect. In fact it doesn't even have a sim card slot so there is nothing that you can do. And its not software either, its a hardware problem so its not fixable. Sorry, try the D2G
Sent from my GT-I9300

Before buying Note 3 (3UK), advise pls

Hello there,
Need your advise guys before buying Note 3. (I own Note 2)
- I am thinking about getting this phone from buymobiles.net cos the deal is better than directly from 3 (£120 for handset + 24x£30) and also I need an unlocked phone.
3 says they start providing 4g next month. The phone is 4g ready - does it mean, I can use it with 3 now (3g only) and next month when they switch to 4g?
- I know there are 2 types of processor, which one is the most common on xda regarding cooking and how to check it if I order the phone by phone or website, please?
- any tips about buying this phone, is there anything I should know before buying pls?
Cheers

qwerty1q said:
Hello there,
Need your advise guys before buying Note 3. (I own Note 2)
- I am thinking about getting this phone from buymobiles.net cos the deal is better than directly from 3 (£120 for handset + 24x£30) and also I need an unlocked phone.
3 says they start providing 4g next month. The phone is 4g ready - does it mean, I can use it with 3 now (3g only) and next month when they switch to 4g?
- I know there are 2 types of processor, which one is the most common on xda regarding cooking and how to check it if I order the phone by phone or website, please?
- any tips about buying this phone, is there anything I should know before buying pls?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mate yes it works with 3g when 3 go 4g they will send you a new 4g sim and all N3 in uk are snapdragon 800

unlocked phone no! go to carphonewarehouse for unlocked phones
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda premium

jowett69 said:
unlocked phone no! go to carphonewarehouse for unlocked phones
Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

qwerty1q said:
?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3 don't do unlocked phone if you want unlocked you have to go to Phones4u or carphone warehouse

Not really, I purchased my note 2 from buymobiles. Net on 3uk network, the phone was unlocked, I asked a few times before ordering
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

Phone 4 u don't deal with 3 anymorr and carphonewarehouse deals are expensive
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

You may be better off getting the carrier-locked phone from 3 and unlocking it, rather than going for a SIM-free phone from Carphone Warehouse or Phones 4u which are all regionally locked. This is because the network carrier unlock is better understood, can be unlocked by the carrier without involving Samsung and is less susceptible to unilateral change than Samsung's opaque regional lock. As it is, Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4u cannot unlock the regional lock on Samsung phones (ie Note 3, new S4s etc) which they sell and Samsung are refusing to do so.
An unofficial unlock of a regionally locked phone is always going to stand out if Samsung has never agreed and never will agree to release the regional lock associated with the sales code/IMEI of the regionally locked phone. The risk is that Samsung will have ways to reapply the regional lock on such a phone. I am not sure I would want to risk Samsung seeking to reapply its regional lock and would rather take my chances with a carrier lock and getting that unlocked instead.

Thank you for some useful information.
Can I easily unlock a phone locked to 3UK?
Is it expensive?
Are you sure that the locked phone from 3UK or any other provider doesn't have a regional lock?
Can the phone have both locks?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

qwerty1q said:
Can I easily unlock a phone locked to 3UK?
Is it expensive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not tried it but reports are of unofficial network unlocks costing around $20 and being quite easy to obtain. Whether 3 would do it for a long-standing customer I have not explored. 3 might well require its use for a period before 3 would consider unlocking it themselves.
qwerty1q said:
Are you sure that the locked phone from 3UK or any other provider doesn't have a regional lock?
Can the phone have both locks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A determining factor for the inclusion of a regional lock seems to be the "sales code" of the phone. If you buy a phone from a 3 store then it is likely to be branded and have the sales code H3G. The sale code H3G has in the CSC a carrier NetworkLock for 23420 and 23594, both of which I believe are "3" networks in GB. There seem to be no other NetworkLocks in the H3G systems/csc/customer.xml file, either for network or regional lock.
If you buy the phone from a general retailer like Carphone Warehouse or Phones 4u and the phone is unbranded then the phone may well have the regional lock in it. This seems to be the case even if it is being bought with a contract to a network like Vodafone or 3. You would be able to see it has a CSC like N9005OXABMJ3 - dial *#1234# in stock dialler to see version of CSC.
Not yet seen any example where there is both a regional lock and a carrier lock in the same CSC.

Buy O2 Z3 compact to unlock/unbrand?

Really love everything I've seen about this phone and I'm currently looking at finding it for the best price. I'd rather keep my cheap sim only deal and buy it outright. Anyway the best price I can see around is from O2 at only £289.99 (then cashback from Quidco/Topcashback brings it down to £275). They also seem to allow unlocking to other networks (https://www.o2.co.uk/apps/help/help?qid=1&q1=2&route=unlocking&case=Handset Unlocking Form).
I've been reading here and can see that there is a way to root the phone and install a custom OS without falling into Sony's DRM trap (http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/how-to-root-backup-drm-keys-t3013343/page13). So I can unlock it and remove any O2 specific branding their might be in the OS.
However the last thing I need to know is this. Does this model have any O2 specific branding on the phone itself (as in logo's on the casing ect?).
If anyone with the O2 model could just let me know I'd appreciate it.

I just got this phone, No O2 branding on case, boot animation is O2 bubbles and a couple of apps inside.
But the biggest setback is the service configuration for Boot loader unlock allowed = NO
So I think I can get root but that all! :crying:

Yup o2 give you devices with no ability to unlock bootloader
Sent from my D5803 using XDA Premium HD app

O2 Slovakia gave out Z3C with unlockable BL + Generic CE1 firmware (no carrier BS).

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I couldnt live with a phone that's impossible to customize, especially with branding on it. So my next option is a D5833 version of the phone for £289. I believe this is the Asian version? But looking at the wireless bands it supports it would seem it will be fine on EE in the UK?

Ok, I checked out the manual for the Z3 Compact D5833 against the wireless bands used in the UK and it supports all those used by EE (2G, 3G and 4G) and only doesn't support 4G on Three and O2. I usually go with any of the EE network providers as its best in my area so I've gone with this phone for £289, delivered tomorrow, can't wait

DonnieDio said:
Ok, I checked out the manual for the Z3 Compact D5833 against the wireless bands used in the UK and it supports all those used by EE (2G, 3G and 4G) and only doesn't support 4G on Three and O2. I usually go with any of the EE network providers as its best in my area so I've gone with this phone for £289, delivered tomorrow, can't wait
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you say where you purchased from?
thanks in advance

DonnieDio said:
Ok, I checked out the manual for the Z3 Compact D5833 against the wireless bands used in the UK and it supports all those used by EE (2G, 3G and 4G) and only doesn't support 4G on Three and O2. I usually go with any of the EE network providers as its best in my area so I've gone with this phone for £289, delivered tomorrow, can't wait
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure? I bought an unbranded one from giffgaff. Using one of their sims which use the O2 network and the phone displays a 4g signal

I bought the D5803 when it was £239.99 (+free Chromecast) on O2 PAYG. The firmware is O2 specific and branded, but easily changed to the 3 firmware by flashing. No logos on the handset itself.
The biggest pain was getting it unlocked via code, the codes are much more expensive for this phone on eBay. One seller couldn't get me a code after a week of waiting, then another got me one in 24 hours (for £10).
Really happy with it so far and an absolute bargain for a brand-new phone from an official retailer.

I have from o2 germany. Just some bloatware. No hw brandind,bl unlockable. Just debranded it with ce1 fw

dual sim uk

Good Morning,
I have a Galaxy S10 plus, in UK (dual sim) supposed to be locked to EE?
I am using a 3 network sim in primary slot and it works? No problems whatsoever,
How will I know if its locked?
And if it is, How will I unlock it?
Thank you.

koloure2211 said:
Good Morning,
I have a Galaxy S10 plus, in UK (dual sim) supposed to be locked to EE?
I am using a 3 network sim in primary slot and it works? No problems whatsoever,
How will I know if its locked?
And if it is, How will I unlock it?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clearly you may not have received that phone directly from EE but a third party reseller (Mobiles.co.uk) as all EE handset are normally locked. If its lock you would not be able to use another sim from another network in it..

Thank you for your reply, yes I traded in my xs max for it at CEX (UK)

I got mine from an EE store on upgrade. As long as its the "Hybrid Sim" version, then its unlocked.

Canaan said:
I got mine from an EE store on upgrade. As long as its the "Hybrid Sim" version, then its unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you physically tried another network sim in your phone or you are just chatting.

west2cool said:
Have you physically tried another network sim in your phone or you are just chatting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeh, is that really a thing with Samsung phones? If its dual sim=automatically unlocked? I'm using a dual sim, is there an app I can use to check rather than having to take my existing sim cards out? Not being lazy, it's just usually if I put another carriers sim in then it changes my data /WiFi calling settings.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

jadaress1 said:
Yeh, is that really a thing with Samsung phones? If its dual sim=automatically unlocked? I'm using a dual sim, is there an app I can use to check rather than having to take my existing sim cards out? Not being lazy, it's just usually if I put another carriers sim in then it changes my data /WiFi calling settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I have one from EE and its sim locked..

west2cool said:
Have you physically tried another network sim in your phone or you are just chatting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just inserted another sim (EE) and both are working. sim manager shows both sims are 2g/3g/4g. Also tried a plusnet payg sim and that works too. So no....i'm not "just chatting".
Clearly, he DID get it from EE.

Canaan said:
I've just inserted another sim (EE) and both are working. sim manager shows both sims are 2g/3g/4g. Also tried a plusnet payg sim and that works too. So no....i'm not "just chatting".
Clearly, he DID get it from EE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi just to confirm, you've got a phone directly from EE and you've tried EE and plus net (who run off the EE network) sim cards. Unless you've tried another network besides EE, then how can you be sure its unlocked? Mines directly from Vodafone, I doubt mines unlocked unfortunately.
Who clearly got it from EE? They said they purchased from CEX, im confused [emoji848]
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Got mine from Vodafone and its locked. Tried 2 Vodafone sims and works fine. Will just unlock after 3 months for free
Sent from my SM-G975F using XDA-Developers Legacy app

Yes I traded in my xs max, (256 GB) and got the S10 + (512 GB) I did indeed get it from CEX.
it said it was on EE network? Cheaper and I hoped to get it unlocked.
Tried my (own just out of curiosity) 3 network sim in the primary slot and it works!!? Tried a Tesco sim, (02) it works??!
Got in touch with "mobile unlocked" and told them I wanted to unlock it, and they confirmed it must be unlocked.
Happy Days!!!

koloure2211 said:
Thank you for your reply, yes I traded in my xs max for it at CEX (UK)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All exynos models are dual sim, there are no more DS models, so for that the S10 doesn't come unlocked from samsung. It still is up to the carriers.
Now, carriers that used to provide locked phones may now be providing unlocked phones, but thats on them.
(There is a SD model but thats just the chinese snapdragon model)

I think only 3uk and maybe O2 (not sure on O2) Supply unlocked phones if you get it directly from them. If you buy from for instance carphonewarehouse or mobiles.co.uk the phone will be unlocked regardless of what network you got it on.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app