Database Users

Too good to be true???

This shop has the p6500 for US $710 shipped to the USA. This is much lower than anyone else. Has anyone done business with them? They want Western Union which scares me...
PHONE CITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS LTD
76 STONEY LANE, SPARKBROOK,
BIRMINGHAM, B12 8AF,UK
Registered # 05588001
Tel. +447031944754

No trusted is a scam
I sent a western union mo for a single cellphone and they reply that in order for them to send me the phone I need to buy 5. in no moment that was mention,the only thing that was mention was that if I buy 5 phones the shipping cost would be free. I request my money back and they refuse to send it,i lost my money.

Sorry to hear of your problem, I hope you somehow resolve it. I see Expansys USA (aka MobilePlanet) has Spanish ROM P6500 for about US $825. This is about $100 lower than WWE ROM versions...
So, why not just flash the WWE ROM to it? Expansys are checking to see if the paper documentation in box is multilingual or not; I may buy device if so. I wonder if I need to HardSPL to do this and if so, so what?

toyfreak said:
This shop has the p6500 for US $710 shipped to the USA. This is much lower than anyone else. Has anyone done business with them? They want Western Union which scares me...
PHONE CITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS LTD
76 STONEY LANE, SPARKBROOK,
BIRMINGHAM, B12 8AF,UK
Registered # 05588001
Tel. +447031944754
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Scam. I'll be in Birmingham tomorrow and will be passing this place ( it's a famous long road) so will check it out - I would guess it's an empty shop :-(
M.S

toyfreak said:
Sorry to hear of your problem, I hope you somehow resolve it. I see Expansys USA (aka MobilePlanet) has Spanish ROM P6500 for about US $825. This is about $100 lower than WWE ROM versions...
So, why not just flash the WWE ROM to it? Expansys are checking to see if the paper documentation in box is multilingual or not; I may buy device if so. I wonder if I need to HardSPL to do this and if so, so what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey toyfreak and others -- if any of you ends up buying the Spanish version and flashing it with the WWE ROM, I'd be really interested to hear how it's done and if it works. I've quickly become very dependent on my P6500 and chafe at the thought of spending $1000 to replace it if it ever needs to be sent away for service or -- even worse! -- gets stolen. It would be nice to know that there are less expensive replacement options out there.
Thanks, Alan

Western Union is only ever used by thieves. Avoid!

mantra said:
Western Union is only ever used by thieves. Avoid!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true. I used to sell on eBay and paypal wasn't available to me so I used Western Union sometimes.
I agree that scammers always use it, but that doesn't mean that all using it are scammers.

I see now mobileplanet.com (expansys-usa.com) now has the p6500 for $734.99... Damn HTC for not making a US-spec Touch HD!

HTC Topaz (Touch Diamond 2) - real or fake?

Hi. I'm from Moscow, Russia and I've got a problem with my future (i hope) HTC Topaz.
After analyzing our(Russian) market I've came to a conclusion that there are at least 2 types of this device:
1. From Taiwan, certified, with guarantee, with Russian windows mobile - i.e. official one - 497.2$
2. From China, NOT certified, there are NO guarantee, English windows, the only document which comes with this device is a cash-memo and user manual - that's all (as salesman told me). price - 396$
100$ difference is a big money in my case. English Windows is not a problem, 'cause there are lots of info on howto change firmware. as for the guarantee - all the stuff i bought earlier (notebooks, cameras) are working just fine, I've never been at the service center before - so i hope i won't need one in future.
The question is: how to determine that the device I'm going to buy (before actually buying it; I'll have nearly 10-20 min) is a real one and not a fake like e.g. "HTS tauch brilliant2" or "Pear iFone 5g", that inside it's absolutely identical to the certified one, that the hardware is the same and I'll be able to change firmware. One of the problems is i won't be able to insert Sim and make a call, test WiFi and etc, 'cause the phone is probably locked. Is there any way, any program that allows to display a list of hardware inside this PDA on its screen or on the screen of notebook. Or maybe there is a list of serial numbers somewhere and i can compare them to the one i'll see under the battery? Maybe someone has bought it for extremely low price and really satisfied with it?
Any ideas and opinions are appreciated!
Thnx!
Best regards, Rudbur.

$396 is fake diamond 2 - it is easy to figure out - just turn it on and you'll see for yourself. real greyimport diamond 2 costs now $500, but it will has no manufacturer warranty anyway, don't get yourself tricked... if you want warranty - buy legally imported PCT device.

Oh, fellow countryman! Thanks for the answer!
You probably know (price.ru) what stores i mean. So, let's assume this: I'm ordering two different HTCs: one for 400$ and one for 500$. I turn them on (simultaneously), and what should i expect when testing the fake one?
If there's no difference at all - same buttons, same size, same menu and etc (except language: russian and english), should i buy cheapest?
oh, and i heard or read somewhere that china shops offer real topaz for 333$. Or am i wrong?

The Chinese "copies" aren't actually the same at all.
The names are similar/identical, and they try to mimmick the physical appearance of a genuine device, but the software and internals are all different. Usually there a obvious differences like a lower resolution camera, room for dual SIM cards etc.
I've never seen one myself, but I would imagine once you switch it on you'll get default Windows Mobile with no HTC add-ons. I doubt they have gone to the trouble of faking an entire HTC ROM as well - but I might be wrong.

Hi,
I can testify here, as I have been living in China for a while, and buying phones from the grey market for a while too.
a few things to know:
Real fake chinese stuff will not even have HTC written on it. MTC or something like that. The plastic looks cheap, and it wouldn't even have winmo on it. I saw a "Nolia N95" the other day with the Sony Ericsson interface on it!
Then, in china, you got an official one for real cheap, but the brand is Dopodo, and they don't have wifi built-in. It's the real stuff, but for chinese market only.
At last, the grey market stuff, like mine which I paid the equivalent of 400USD has, I believe "fallen from the truck" in HK... So it got the HK Rom in it, ot Taiwanese, not so certain, as it was in CHS, and they use CHT in those regions.
So, briefly, chinese fake will be very, very easy to spot Hope that helps!

Thanks to you all, guys. I hope the shop I'm going to buy from will allow me to test these devices and save few bucks. I emailed them earlier, asking about guarantee, prices and so on, but they haven't answered yet.
kipue, your opinion is especially important, because you lived there, you know what's what. So I'll draw attention to the labels on it, camera, functioning of wifi, windows mobile menus and all.
After actually buying it I'll post a reply here.
Best regards, Rudbur.

Phone from icraveit.com FAKE ???

Anyone ordered a phone from icraveit.com - http://www.icraveit.com/i/item/1000...-T4243-Quad-band-Cell-Phone-w--GPS-T4243.html
Is it original from HTC or a chinese one? I could not get any reply from icraveit.com regarding the phone (especially the speed..)?
I am trying to get an Iolite and dont know if this is good.

Hard to tell... The name is not right, but there is no specification, so we cannot see which processor is used on this model.

I think it's fake the name is not right and the Warranty is only 30-Days

Smells like fake indeed....price is soo low....and original version comes with more accesories....like car mount, pouch, screen protector, extra stylus....and in my country with TomTom.....

Frank Caarls said:
Smells like fake indeed....price is soo low....and original version comes with more accesories....like car mount, pouch, screen protector, extra stylus....and in my country with TomTom.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does state it's recertified ( refurbished ). I was thinking the 4243 is US/NA version. Can anyone clarify this?

I got mine from MidnightBox.com, it is the retail version, and the true model. It included all the gadgets. Not sure if the one you are mentioning is a fake since they stated that it is out of stock and no picture.
Hope it helps

Another cheap T4242+ seller I found: cectunlocked.com.
How about this one?

Is the hardware on the US version diferent than European version, or just the radio firmware?

No point in buying fakes nowadays I got my true HTC from MediaMarket for 160€

HD2: How to spot a fake? [Closed]

Hi guys,
How would I know if my intended HD2 buy is not a fake?
Where do I need to look for and what?
Serial numbers?
etc.
-Im from Holland (the netherlands)
-Asking price is 350
-Its a private seller, no retailer and the guy is unknown (besides first name and phonenumber)
-It comes in the original box with all the accessories and warranties according to seller
-Guy sounds legit, when communicating
-I want his HD2, Im a HTC user since 2002 (1e was a Artemis: P3300, 2nd and current: Touch Pro with custom ROM)
-I have great knowledge about an HD2 from pictures/videos/youtube, specs, etc. but never held one in person
Therefore I ask owners or similair intended buyers who know specific things on their HTC to look for what makes it a legit HTC. Is it serials, is it logo's? Things that are really hard to copy to make a fake one.
Kind Regards.
Paul

From where you get it ^^?

paultje_007 said:
Hi guys,
How would I know if my intended HD2 buy is not a fake?
Where do I need to look for and what?
Serial numbers?
etc.
Kind Regards.
Paul
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a specific model you want?
Where are you buying it from?
Can you touch it before you buy it?
How much are you planning to spend?
Have you seen HD2 videos on YouTube?
Do you know what it looks like?
Do you know the seller?
There are lots of questions you should think about before posting and asking us a very vague question.

Its hardly a vague question is it? Hopefully someone a bit more helpful will be able to offer more advice...

If you go to the HTC web site and look for a list of resellers in your country (you haven't said what country you are in) or go to the web site or store of an international mobile phone company I believe that you would only get a genuine phone. If you buy sight unseen from an auction site or a little known consumer electronics site in a country well known for being able to make fake consumer electronics then you are more likely to be sold a fake. How many people here have seen a fake HD2? I've personally never heard of anyone. Serial numbers can be duplicated, in fact they are sometimes shared in public fora for ROM download purposes so are not all quite as unique as they could be.

First post edited:
-Im from Holland (the netherlands)
-Asking price is 350
-Its a private seller, no retailer and the guy is unknown (besides first name and phonenumber)
-It comes in the original box with all the accessories and warranties according to seller
-Guy sounds legit, when communicating
-I want his HD2, Im a HTC user since 2002 (1e was a Artemis: P3300, 2nd and current: Touch Pro with custom ROM)
-I have great knowledge about an HD2 from pictures/videos/youtube, specs, etc. but never held one in person
Therefore I ask owners or similair intended buyers who know specific things on their HTC to look for what makes it a legit HTC. Is it serials, is it logo's? Things that are really hard to copy to make a fake one.

Only buy from a trusted reseller- Amazon or one listed by HTC. Here, from a senior member-I'd be hesitant of a noob (no offense to noobs).

get a surname, address and landline phone number, then look them up in directory enquiries. Call them at the landline number you get from directory enquiries.
Not perfect, but can be useful in spotting a dodgy seller.

It's bought! I'm a proud owner of a 3 month old legit Leo (HD2).
The guy was more like a tester like everyone here on XDA than some dodgy tracksuit fellow with a loose phone. (the box with all the paperwork was there, plus he had an extra battery and an 8GB MicroSD card, but he lost the earplug...)
So 350 E is I think not a rip off!
(normal = 492E for a new retailers one and 50E for a 2nd battery + 8GB card)
(3 months old, no wear & tear!, is 542 - 350 = 192 E savings)
I reckon good deal!
Topic closed.

[Q] Made in china not taiwan?

Can you people check and see where your phone is made, i found a htc hd2 i want to buy but it says it is made in china. Will this affect the ablity to install android and wp7 on it? i ask this as it is normally made in taiwan

I just check 3 of my HD2's all are made in Taiwan, i guess it won't matter if it's made in china if all the specs are the same. give it a shot & let us know.

actually most HD2 are made in taiwan
so is no need to check. as i know there's no fabric of HD2 in china to see

there have been several instances of people buying cheap 'bargain' fakes from china. i'd be very wary, since you dont know if the hardware is identical, and theres a good chance flashing wont work, especially the hspl stuff, and then drivers in any particular rom may not be correct for the hardware even if it did flash.

carlos118 said:
Can you people check and see where your phone is made, i found a htc hd2 i want to buy but it says it is made in china. Will this affect the ablity to install android and wp7 on it? i ask this as it is normally made in taiwan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you seen the sticker on the inside of the phone?
BTW Taiwan is a republic of China

Both my t-mobile hd2's were made in China. Both of them I bought within USA and one of them came with the original box and it also says made in China on them so no, it does not affect the quality of the phone and it being "made in China" does not mean it is a fake.
Both of them work fine and were my dev phones..

Both of mine say China as well and one of them is a replacement phone shipped direct from HTC repair.
Also running Android without any problem.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using xda premium

mengfei said:
have you seen the sticker on the inside of the phone?
BTW Taiwan is a republic of China
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not strictly correct, Taiwan IS the republic of China (ROC) not a republic of China or I should say was the ROC since they were brutally cut down and fled to Taiwan after WW2, however, most countries quite happily treat Taiwan as its own independent state, and if you look at the political and social situation on the island you can clearly see that they are doing very well for them selves, and are ranked very highly in terms of freedom of speech, health and education.
China is the Peoples republic of China (PRC) which is widely recognised as the legal ruling body of mainland china. The hypocrisy is that whilst we all think Taiwan is independent we cant say so formally otherwise the PRC has vowed to take the island by force and cut off all diplomatic relations with that country… its all very confusing!
back on topic... there was a case not long ago where someone had a HD2 clone made in china, but the devices them selves can be made anywhere now, so its not really a problem unless you have political reasons NOT to buy from china