Z750a fw debrand makes phone report that its a z750i (which is bad)

[sbsidlov]

I live chated with Tim prior to updating the firmware and he suggested Z750a R1EA038 CID52 CUSTOMIZED GEL/PLATINUM SILVER AMERICA - EN PB CF NL FR XL for the firmware update.

The update went well. The phone rebooted and few minutes with the SE website's configuration tool reestablished web, etc.

However, the phone reports in the browser that it is a z750i vs z750a phone. This causes the following issues:

1. ATT MediaNet won't let me have access to some services such as the streaming TV which is included in my data plan. (Won't even show it on the MediaNet home page or subpages.

2. ATT MediaMall won't let me purchase applications. I have two subscription applications: XM radio and My-Cast Weather both of which when I try to download them say: "Your device is not supported for puchases on Media Mall"

Additionally, SE has a Go Yahoo! app that does download, however on initialization it says: your firmware must be R1KC or higher. FOTA says there is no later firmware.


I think I would be happy if the phone reported that it was a z750a vs the z750i so that I can get my pay subscriptions.

[sbsidlov]

I didn't explain what I thought should happen.

When I pick a firmware file that has z750a in the name, I expected the file to have the phone report that it is a z750a phone and not report being a z750i.

I would like someone from davinci team to tell me if there is a generic US or North American firmware that will make the phone GENERIC Z750A and the phone will report it's a "A" rather than an "I"

Meanwhile, for the active readers, here's a list of what is in the firmware update:

1. Video phone calling - if there really is a second camera in the "A" and if you can get streaming media settings correct and can get ATT to let you to subscribe to "Video Select"

2. GPS - I get accuracy to 10 meters, works best in car with charger attached, can drain battery in 2 hours or less. Must use app in firmware, newer Google won't work as well. Locator Services can be left active and minimized so that Google will immediately know where you are. But do it connected to a charger.

3. Blogging from camera as a 'send to blog' (Blogspot.com)

4. RSS Desktop - has as many features as an iPhone's. Auto scroll, configurable updates

5. Podcasts (video and audio) I believe that it may be configurable by the rss feeds rather than the PC Suite sync method.

6. Exchange ActiveSync without any shortcomings, specific Exchange sync.

7. SyncML for everything else.

8. Email push client - works with ANY pop or imap server, and can filter out unwanted domains, etc from the 'push'

9. Network Sharing function, phone can be part of office network via USB or Bluetooth

10. Choice between GSM & 3G vs GSM only is now unblocked, fixing the battery life issues. Even in combined mode, if the phone isn't updating it will drop down to GSM/Edge when not actually using the web.

11. FOTA (Firmware Over The Air) updates


What you lose:
XM radio and other ATT Applications (free and not free) TV streaming (which may be correctable with two things, the phone reporting it's a 'A' type and the mystery of the "Network Streaming" settings which ATT has not revealed like the other internet connection settings.

[mikhan]

You've lost AT&T stuff because you debranded the phone, not because it became i instead of a.
If you rebrand it again to, say, this firmware Z750a R1DB005 CID52 AT&T USA, you can use AT&T apps again.

[hedgehogs]

I wonder if there is a way to patch the phone's FS so that it will report itself to AT&T website as useragent Z750 CINGULAR instead of Z750 AMERICA... This would probably do the trick.

[sbsidlov]

Originally Posted by hedgehogs

I wonder if there is a way to patch the phone's FS so that it will report itself to AT&T website as useragent Z750 CINGULAR instead of Z750 AMERICA... This would probably do the trick.

If there is I would like to know!

well, it's gotten more interesting. Since this original firmware update, there has been a SE update available via both FOTA and SE Update Manager - 1201-2828 R1FA030 080504. And for a while the condition described above continued to be the same, I could access the ATT MEdiaNet's portal, but not their store. As of a couple weeks ago, I can't access MEdiaNet any more. Opera Mini works, RSS desktop feeds work, the embedded NetView browser works

I spent an hour on the phone with a level two support tech, who was no help. He even accepted that I had done my own firmware upgrade, and treated me as if I had my own purchased unlocked phone which ATT 'fully supports' according to him. He went through the settings for the internet and the ones he gave with the proxy settings (available on the web) DO NOT WORK and there are some language/word usage/order of input sequences that are different from the SE to ATT versions. SE's settings that are sent from their site via SMS and the standard cingular settings you can find on the web DO work. So I have working internet access but not access to the portal. Even Yahoo GO! application works. Its Just a PITA.

I still like the phone's GPS stuff. I have put AMAZE GPS on it (you need the C702 version rather than the z750). It's neat and helped out a lot when traveling around for marching band season. Though the GPS sync to the satellites is SLOW. I have a SE car mount for the unit which seems to help the signal since the GPS is located on the left hand side of the keypad and suffers when holding the phone.

Just a FYI, the updated SE firmware causes the phone to reboot every couple of days when you don't turn the phone off to clear out the memory and temp storage. Sometimes that GPS (in use), with NetFront or Google Maps browser and getting a phone call is too much for the phone, and when you hang up on the call, the phone shuts off (and turns itself back on). I've never had it boot during a call.

I picked up a SE HBH-DS960 bluetooth (stereo, handsfree). Works nice with the unit, I can listen to podcasts and music and answer/calls but the voice controls are shaky with this unit and noisy backgrounds environments. Fine in the car.

[topherez]

To access the net and Google Maps, you need a data plan, correct? Which one do I sign up for (if I need one at all)?

[Chris]

Originally Posted by topherez

To access the net and Google Maps, you need a data plan, correct? Which one do I sign up for (if I need one at all)?

I'm sorry, we cannot offer recommendations for provider services or packages.

[hedgehogs]

Has this issue received any development?

I submitted a ticket to support@davinciteam, and by response, it seems they're disinterested in analyzing the problem.

You've lost AT&T stuff because you debranded the phone, not because it became i instead of a.
If you rebrand it again to, say, this firmware Z750a R1DB005 CID52 AT&T USA, you can use AT&T apps again.

It's not even apps. We're getting bumped back by a webpage. It's before the firmware intricacies even have a chance to get into play. In your professional opinion: how would AT&T's website figure out what firmware is the phone using, other than by looking at the HTTP request that the phone is sending? I'd like to be able to know if the parameters of this request (specifically useragent string) could be adjusted in the firmware, possibly on the FS level.

Also: apart from the privilege of paying Davinci team TWICE, what are the benefits for us to de-brand our phones only to re-brand them back?

[dapcwiz]

I just unbranded my W760a to a W760i and I am having similar issues. If I could just get streaming video to work (even youtube!) I'd be happy....

right now it just connects to media server and then sits at buffering 0% forever...

[nsfw]

I'm having the same trouble with my w760a, now w760i. One of the Davinci guys gave me credits back to try about 4 different firmwares and none of them work. I'm with what the OP said, why can't the generic firmware be modified (I think its just a hidden .xml file) so the phone would report that its a w760a to AT&T? Seems like its worth a try.

[sbsidlov]

Originally Posted by nsfw

I'm having the same trouble with my w760a, now w760i. One of the Davinci guys gave me credits back to try about 4 different firmwares and none of them work. I'm with what the OP said, why can't the generic firmware be modified (I think its just a hidden .xml file) so the phone would report that its a w760a to AT&T? Seems like its worth a try.

I don't know if they told you, but because I had a warranty replacement of my phone, I unbranded it again. This time I tried the NAM ( used GEL originally) version of the firmware and it appears that there a 'a' version too, or that the firmware setup is putting in a xml file that reports the same firmware level and name that the phone had originally. My phone 'appears' to be reporting that it is still using ATT's firmware and absolutely reporting that it is a 'a' instead of an 'i'.

The good news is that getting to ATT medianet is not a problem, even getting to ATT Video service is not problem, but the NAM firmware does not have the video (Real Networks) app to play the VID and I am getting 'FAIL' when I try to play CNN from from the ATT Video Network page. Previously I could not even GET TO THE PAGE and the Video option was missing from the MediaNet Home page.

[GMoore]

In my experience some of the debranding packs changes the name of the phone and some do not. I debraded two C905a's using dfferent packs. One came out a C905 and the other came out a C905a. Guess which one works correctly with AT&T apps. The other does not. They seem to not see the problem. If I ever use the service again on an AT&T phone that would be the first thing I would ask. How is it going to be identified after debranding?
See this post in this forum:
http://www.seuniverse.com/forums/fir...-my-w760a.html

The name of the phone makes a difference.