vB Easy Archive - Which provider disables the fewest functions?

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Which provider disables the fewest functions?
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Posted by: jorakal

I am wondering which provider blocks/disables the fewest functions on their phones and which phones have the fewest blocked functions? Phones not PDAs. I am currently with Verizon who disables all kinds of stuff. I've modified my E815's so that everything works... now. I have cables for all of my family's phones and can get pictures off and ringtones to all of them, but what a pain!

So I would love to know if ATT, T-mobile, and Sprint all do the same things on all of their phones? If they do then which are the easiest to modify to restore their original functionality? I plan to switch from Verizon to something else within the next half-year. Right now looks like ATT but am open to any of them.

Thanks

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

AT&T and T-Mobile don't block anything I don't think. AT&T for sure, not sure on T-Mobile. Sprint does, Verizon does, not sure about Altell. Centennial (GSM provider) does not, in fact, I don't even think that their phones are locked to their network.

Posted by: bachviet

T-Mobile cripples some of its branded phones. Your best bet is any GSM carrier because you could get unlocked/unbranded phones without any crippling.

Posted by: npaladin2000

AT&T and T-Mobile do the least amount of crippling out of the major carriers (AT&T restricts ringtones on all their phones to 600k, which counts as crippling). The carrier that does the least amount of crippling that I've used is Dobson...they use the straight OEM firmware, where AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile all develop or modify their own for the phones they carry. You want a 100% uncrippled, unbranded phone, look for a smaller GSM carrier, since they typcially can't afford to develop their own, locked-down firmware (or even lock the phones in some cases). Or buy an unbranded phone 3rd party.

Posted by: zephxiii

i really don't see 600kb limit on ringtones as a cripple, the hell you need them bigger than that anyways, its more of a common sense and how do we know ATT did it instead of moto doing it? The real ATT cripple is the java nag and the menu locks (can't customize).

Centennial wireless doesn't even brand their phones!! (software). sweeeet

Posted by: npaladin2000

Quote:

Originally Posted by zephxiii

i really don't see 600kb limit on ringtones as a cripple, the hell you need them bigger than that anyways, its more of a common sense and how do we know ATT did it instead of moto doing it?

Because that would be Moto doing it....and Nokia....and Samsung...and LG...need I go on?

I've got the same limit on a different brand phone. It might be the manufacturer doing it, but they're doing it to AT&T's specs so AT&T will carry it as an AT&T branded phone.

Personally, I don't find myself limited by it, but some have expressed interest in setting their MP3 format songs as ringtones without the hassle of editing them.

Posted by: zephxiii

Quote:

Originally Posted by npaladin2000

Because that would be Moto doing it....and Nokia....and Samsung...and LG...need I go on?

I've got the same limit on a different brand phone. It might be the manufacturer doing it, but they're doing it to AT&T's specs so AT&T will carry it as an AT&T branded phone.

Personally, I don't find myself limited by it, but some have expressed interest in setting their MP3 format songs as ringtones without the hassle of editing them.

True that, but I find that the beginning of most songs kinda suck as ringtones so it doesn't bother me.....

cept this one i made: http://www.xti9.com/RJ-Giveittome.mp3

Posted by: npaladin2000

I dunno, I think the beginning of Metallica's "One" would make a decent ringtone.

But I think we're getting a bit off topic here.

let's summarize the lockdown scale:

1 - Verizon: YOU can do whatever WE want! Hope you like red bars!
2 - Sprint: We're a little nicer than Verizon, and we're yellow too!
3 - T-Mobile: Well, we had to for MyFaves, didn't we?
4 - AT&T: We don't care TOO much, but we hate big ringtones.
5 - Alltel: Hi, my name's Chad and I don't know what firmware is!

6 - Regional carriers: We can't afford features, but we can't afford custom firmware either.

Posted by: AirTango

Quote:

Originally Posted by npaladin2000

6 - Regional carriers: We can't afford features, but we can't afford custom firmware either.

Actually some of the regional carriers can request for things to be blocked or unblocked depending on how detailed that is. If it requires a minor software change pre-release then it is definitely possible. The manufacturer will actually handle the changes for you. The reason regional carriers have their handsets open is because it makes it easier to steal those customers from the larger carriers. Trust me on that one.

Posted by: jorakal

That's great news about ATT and T-mobile. I appreciate the info. I'm definitely moving from Verizon after my contract is up.

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

Yeah, I forgot about the 600k limit on the ringtones for AT&T. I don't really call that crippling. At least they allow mp3 ringtones with no hassle, unlike Roger's.

zephxiii - what do you mean by menu customization? I had a branded/locked W810i, and then bought an unlocked/unbranded W810i, and there is very little difference in the menu's. What exactly are you talking about?