Vodafone and firmware
 

At the risk of repeating a lot of the white noise on here, thought I'd add my experiences.

I've added a post to the vodafone eforum after being asked to by my account contact at vodafone business. She cannot access the answers to my questions and some of the things she has said cause me concern.
vodafone forum thread: http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=52331

Essentially, she has told me that the reason for the delay is due to contract negotiations between vodafone and nokia.
As far as I can see, the only reason for contract negotiations would be if vodafone were to be titting around with the firmware, or not wanting the full firmware to be released? If it's not this, then why are both vodafone and nokia reluctant to discuss it? Why would they then say that my warranty would be invalid if I installed the generic firmware?

There isn't supposed to be branded firmware. But what if there is going to be?

Anyway, we can avoid another lengthy thread on here by y'all just watching what happens on the vodafone forum thread.
:confused:

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Hello mate, read my last post on the main update thread. I got some official word from Nokia on the update. There is a problem with the distribution as opposed to the usual VF tinkering with it issue. I bought mine from VF directly with an upgrade and reflashed from 205 to 203 when issues around the first main update came through a month or so back.

Anyway, basilcally, we will all get the minor update but it will be merged with the major update at end of Feb/beginning of March. :)

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

So you've reflashed to a non vodafone variant? I was explicitly told that this will invalidate the vodafone warranty (which is longer than the nokia one)

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

i thought the nokia one was longer. 2 years and vodafone was a year. i will have to look this up.

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

As far as I'm aware the vodafone one is the length of your contract and the nokia one was 1 year.

I Could Be Wrong (tm)

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

I hope it is. as my last phone c905 they said it was 12months.


i will look in to the nokia one as i am sure it was longer then 12 months

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Vodafone is the length of your contract. Confirmed .

What's teh N900 warranty?

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

VF told me, contract length but only for VF issues! The phone they said was covered for a year. My local Nokia Repair Centre said they think the N900 is covered for 3 years directly from Nokia, so I didn't care about the break-free from VF. Plus, I even mentioned this when I last called them and they said as long as you have the latest firmware I will be 'OK'!

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

I did the same last night and flashed it from 205 to 203 without a hitch.. all I had ro do was reinstall some apps and reapply my font changes with a script. At least this way I don't wait for updates due to whatever issue. Did the same with my N95 not long after I got it 3 years ago.

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

i found this
Nokia Warranty
http://www.nokia.co.uk/support/repai...ty-information

Quote
"Twenty-four (24) months for the mobile device and twelve (12) months for accessories (whether included in the mobile device sales package or sold separately) other than the consumable parts and accessories listed in (b) and (c) below;"


I would read thoght the link and also contact your Nokia support just to make sure what warranty you have.

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Ah. Cool. Nice one. So no point in using the VF firmware then?

Anyone know of any differences?

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

So why are negotiations or discussions between vf and nokia holding back the generic 203 release?

And why have there been no UK firmware files release on tablets-dev since the first production firmware last year? (this includes the -44 and -51 versions.. -51 being the latest)

Seriously.. I'm not a vf customer and I bought an unbranded / sim-free phone from nokia.. if vf are holding MY updates up I am going to be very unimpressed with them both..

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

As I mentioned earlier about the current update, I posted something in the main update thread. I'll repost here so you can see what I put about the current UK situation with regard the update...
"""Ok, Ok, I think I have an answer!! My phone just reset, you know, how they usually do every now and again, but I thought what the heck, I'll call Nokia and ask the progress of the minor update!

Anyway, it appears that only some countries and even then, not all users in that country have managed to receive the minor update. This is an issue and apparently most UK and some Finland users have not been able to get the update as we all now!!

So, they guy at Nokia has confirmed that they know about the issue, and that there is a major update coming last week of Feb/First wek of March. What they will do is merge the minor update with the major update so we will all get everything in one go.

So it seems we may have to wait a little longer, but they recognise the issue and we will get it eventually!

Just thought I'd let you know what I was told! """

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

perhaps we will see a voda branded version pop up , none of their services work at the minute so maybe they are looking to change that

i really hope not and it would stink really bad if it were so

as cp said though why would this affect the nokia direct n900s on a different code

its more then likely the fact the uk has just been forgotten again like what happend with symbian uk generic handsets alot of the time

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

I don't really understand this whole VF branding issue. I can't download the firmware and yes, whilst my phone is on the vodafone network taken out on contract - I did it through MPD brought directly from the Nokia store on regent street BEFORE it was even a twinkle in VF's eye..

As far as i'm concerned I am running an unbranded firmware and yet I still can't get the update...

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

buxz and blobster, see my post above. there has been an error with Nokia sending out the update OTA. They have said that this update will be merged with the major updatge due end of feb/beginning of march :)

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Usually quite good at reading through posts... I'll settle my pitchfork now...

Cheers Wes

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

haha, no worries blobster! :)

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

no no no! burn them! they're witches.


it still begs the question: why is there a different firmware variant? if they are genuinely not modifying it, why didn't they just have the generic?

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Possibly they wanted to leave the option open. If the N900 takes off enough, it'll be worth their while developing themes, apps, etc. to customise their firmware variant.

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

as far as im aware it should be 2 years warranty on your nokia handset. Doesn't matter what network it is.
Altho issues can arise if it is branded firmware and then u de-brand it with generic firmware as networks don't like that.
Overall if anything happens and vodafone give u hassle? then just send it over to nokia and they should fix it for you without any questions.
Although i dont think or know if you can change the product code on the n900 or if it even has 1?
another thing to note is that i had a nokia n95 8gb on the 02 contract which i debranded etc, i had an issue with it an sent it to nokia they put the 02 firmware back on as i changed the product code back to default. This was mid last year when this happened.

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

I would have thought the warranty with the provider is at an absolute minimum the duration of a contract ?

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

The network prob have their own terms and may just cover you for the term that you are with them for but if they see you have changed the firmware an been messing abt then they wont do it.
But nokia as a manufacterer will sort it for you so dont worry, if your provider doesnt fix it then give em 2 fingers!
Either route you go dwn ur gona have to wait 3-5 days or so before you get your handset back. So dont think that walking into a vodafone or any other shop is gona make it quicker. They just gona send it off to their repair centre somewhere.

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Nokia is 2 years

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Quicker route is to go to your Nokia service centre, my local one often sorts simple stuff same day.

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

ye true, u cud do that as well. Never really seen a nokia repair centre up here unless u meant Carphone warehouse? Who also run a repair centre, or at least they used to? not sure, aint bn there in a lng while. Check em out as well. They just scan the barcode sticker behind the battery in ur fone to see if its still under warranty an then take it off u for repair.

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

The only diffrence from the VF and unbranded N900 is the APN settings(to get internet working on the phone).
well this is what i have been told by VF

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Which is complete nonsense as I'm a VF customer with an unbranded N900. Everything loaded up fine first time...! It was a strange response from teh mod on the forum really...! I smelly something fishy.

I don't get why all of them wouldn't ship with global firmware unless country-specific firmware was needed for a specific reason...

I also don't get this UK firmware updating issue - I haven't read in to it, but got my minor update on the 16th absolutely fine. I'm in the UK, global firmware, updated fine...!

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

If you have the global firmware then you'll have updated. If you have the UK firmware (Vodafone or generic) then you won't have. You can check which you have by looking at the version string reported in Settings/About product. If it has a 203 or 205 towards the end then it's a UK version, if it has a 002 it's US, 003 is Africa/Middle East, otherwise it's the global firmware.

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Maybe it is country specific because of the wireless channels and maybe encryption levels too as each country have their own rulings on what can and cant be used

just a thought

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

I purchased sim-free from the nokia store (uk). I've not read anything that would suggest using global firmware would void warranty -- unlike with S60 phones

Indeed entering IMEI into Nokia's tablet site produces a set of firmware files that I am "licensed" to use, with the global option amongst them.

Given the status of that site, and docs on the tools it seems there should be no problem here. But thats different to usual...

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

doing that with mine I am 'licensed for the following

eMMC content 1.2009.41-1
OS 2009 version 1.2009.42-11
OS 2009 version 1.2009.42-11
OS 2009 version 1.2009.42-11
OS 2009 version 1.2009.42-11
OS 2009 version 2.2009.51-1
OS 2009 version 2.2009.51-1
OS 2009 version 2.2009.51-1
PR 1.1.1 version 3.2010.02-8
PR 1.1.1 version 3.2010.02-8
PR 1.1.1 version 3.2010.02-8

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

and interestingly the version 2.2009.51-1 is not listed as a seperate UK variant, just USA, Middle East and Global

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

See http://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=6878

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

Thanks Rob1n hadnt seen that one, too many bug lists to read through lol :)

Re: Vodafone and firmware
 

I spoke with vodafone about the firmware and the technical team have said that they should have the update in the next couple of days. Im not sure to about this as i have read that Vodafone have been shocking in the past.

Either way i explained that i can flash the device and load up Nokia offical release and they did not have any problems with this and it will not void your warranty. i plan on trying this tonight for the first time as have heard its not too difficult