vB Easy Archive - Alltel Blocking Ringtones

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Alltel Blocking Ringtones
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Posted by: sheillia

Alltel has created new software that blocks ringtones that you create. They're forcing you to buy their ringtones for $2.99 each. I'm hoping someone knows of a work around for this.

Posted by: scottmac112

I wasn't aware of this!! :anger: What phone are you using? POS LG? Motorola? Crackberry? POS Samsung?

Posted by: sheillia

I have the Motorola Rockr Z6m. I was told that it was a "copyright" issue and so they made a corporate decision to block all ringtones except for the one's you buy from their Access Shop. I searched around this forum until I found this link:

http://mark.cdmaforums.com/V9M-P2KC.htm

I was able to get my ringtones to work after following his suggestions. They dont' show up under the Ring Styles but you can just click on them in the media gallery/sounds and click options then Apply As. Not the best solution but better than nothing I guess.

Posted by: nancy1972

I have the same problem but with my Motorola K1, can anyone tell me how to work arround this probelm with my phone. The way sheillia does not work on my phone

Posted by: don16006

Bought the Alltel v9m in November-great! Bought the Alltel v9m for my wife in March 2008 ( she liked my phone for the ability to add numerous ringtones)...It was a cripple! Can't apply new ringtones, can't push files to another phone via BT. I took it back and asked why it had been disabled, they said it hadn't. They told me lie after lie! and managed to be as arrogant and condescending as possible. They had the gall to tell me that Alltel "doesn't make any money selling ringtones..that it makes them available as a courtesy to their subscribers" Now I am trying to find a way to enable the "apply as" function in regards to ringtones. I have P2KCommander, MSU, P2kSeem, MPT. Problem is.. some of the software seems to have problems with Vista. MPT works great. I am trying this with a Vista OS and an XP OS. I can't get all the software to run for more than a few minutes even after updating all versions and drivers. But I will continue to try. When will cell phone users get their rights back? I simply want to add my ringtone library to my wife's phone. To the cell phone industry, I am as crooked as the guy hawking pirated DVDs on a street corner.

Posted by: don16006

Just added my entire ringtone library to my wifes phone and it works PERFECTLY. MUCH THANKS to all of you with the knowledge to defeat the drones at Alltel. Special thanx to aesselstein and luiset83. don16006

Posted by: sargent4

My daughter got a RAZR for Christmas. Everything worked great. We used Mobile Phone Tools and Blue tooth to send ringtones. Her phone recieved water damage last weekend and had to be replaced. Now her replacement phone won't let her apply music as ringtones. I can transfer the songs, but the apply as ringtone option isn't available. HELP! Alltel claims this was done as a "fix" because of corrupt files being placed on their equipment. Customer service was no help.

Posted by: don16006

If you do use P2KCommander to add ringtones be carefull. I guess I was too ambitious. I just tried to add MP3 ringtones just like I added the MIDI ringtones and turned my wife's phone into a brick. I definitely need to do more research through these pages. Do you leave the phone plugged in and P2KCommander running while you power up and down after deleting a/MyToneDB.DB? What is the sequence for closing the software, unplugging the phone, etc? PS I used the link above , posted by sheillia, to add my ringtones. Just need a little more clarification on the shutdown process.

Posted by: sheillia

Quote:

Originally Posted by don16006

If you do use P2KCommander to add ringtones be carefull. I guess I was too ambitious. I just tried to add MP3 ringtones just like I added the MIDI ringtones and turned my wife's phone into a brick. I definitely need to do more research through these pages. Do you leave the phone plugged in and P2KCommander running while you power up and down after deleting a/MyToneDB.DB? What is the sequence for closing the software, unplugging the phone, etc? PS I used the link above , posted by sheillia, to add my ringtones. Just need a little more clarification on the shutdown process.

Sorry my link crippled your wife's phone. I didn't delete the MyToneDB.DB and was still able to apply my ringtones AND I also see them under Ring Styles now. I closed all the software (MSU and P2k) then unplugged my phone and turned it off then back on.

Posted by: don16006

I knew there was a risk. The link you supplied was the only thing I've found that actually worked. For one day I had a functional phone. Not sure what I did wrong but I probably will try again. So you say that I DON'T have to delete the a/MyToneDB.DB file to get these ringtones to work correctly. Do you know anything about which ringtone formats are supported other than MIDI; qcp, wav, mp3, etc? I am using a Razr 2 v9m.

Are there any carriers left that are not crippling their phones or have plans to start disabling the features? I'm serious! If anybody knows who my next cell carrier should be please let me know! I am doing this out of desperation; not because I have an unlimited number of phones to play with. If even one of these corporate sharks had a brain in his head; he would see that the carrier NOT crippling the phones would end up with all the marbles.

Posted by: sargent4

It was kind of a round about way, but I got the phone to recognize the tunes as ringtones. I had already bluetoothed lots of songs, so I had to go back and change the attributes of each song. I changed them to system files. Works like a charm. The only way they can be changed is to use the Apply As Ringtone way, but it's better than nothing.

Posted by: don16006

Sounds like we just need to fine tune the method for using P2KCommander for adding ringtones to the crippled Alltel version of the V9m so that they show up as ringtones and can be "applied as" ringtones. And we don't brick the phone. Sheillia can see ringtones and apply. And he didn't delete the a\MyToneDB.DB file after adding the ringtones. I assume he can apply different ringtones to different people. I guess that will be my next attempt.

Posted by: don16006

To Sargent4

Can you apply differen ringtones to different people in your phone book. And do they work? I'm not sure what you mean by only using the apply as ringtone?

Posted by: schu_62

Does anyone know how I can do this with a mac.

Posted by: baker11

i bought a razr2 yesterday and its not crippled but thats only cuse they hadnt sold very many and still had the first batch but my question is why you cant you download a previous software version and run it? oh and my left touch key isnt as sensitive as the music and messages like sometimes i have to push hard or alot for it to work...this happening to anyone else?

Posted by: don16006

Sheillia
I added the Midi ringtones the way you described. It works. I now understand what you meant by using the apply as ringtone. The ringtones don't show up available as ringtones until you go through the sounds index and apply each new midi as a ringtone, one at a time. Then they show up in ringtones as they should and are applicable as caller IDs. I DID NOT DELETE THE a/MyToneDB.DB FILE. I also used the sequence you described to disengage. This method seems to be much safer than others and IT WORKS! At least it works on the newly crippled Alltel version of the v9m. Thank you!!!

Posted by: nancy1972

Does this technique work with a motorola krzr K1??

Posted by: sheillia

Quote:

Originally Posted by don16006

To Sargent4

Can you apply differen ringtones to different people in your phone book. And do they work? I'm not sure what you mean by only using the apply as ringtone?

I'm able to apply different ringtones for different people. I'm sure that the "apply as ringtone" means going in to your media gallery where the ringtones are listed and under options and then choosing apply as. And by the way 'sheillia' is a she

Posted by: don16006

Sorry about that. The MIDI files I loaded into the phone are working fine. Have you loaded any MP3 files or QCP files?
And I don't know if this will work for other phones, even different versions of the v9m.

Posted by: animaluvr

I bought the glimmer last week and returned it the next day. A touchscreen does not require a stylus. The retail store told me to buy the BB Pearl as it is uncrippled. I miss my 1200 minutes yet I am addicted now to the BB. If the new Razor can be cracked to BT my ring tones that I own and have owned for several years I will sadly take back my Pearl. I agree it is not a corporate decisions but a money making decision. I prefer my own ring tones.

Posted by: don16006

Are all of the Alltel BB Pearls uncrippled or did you get an uncrippled one that they had left over? Can you download your own ringtones and make a phone to phone BT connection?

Posted by: Mark_Venture

FYI... if you do NOT delete the MyToneDB.DB file... the ring tones will not show in ring styles...

If you want them to show in ring styles... delete the MyToneDB.DB file. Hence why it is stated on...

http://mark.cdmaforums.com/V9M-P2KC.htm
and the link it contains to -> http://mark.cdmaforums.com/P2KC-Tones.htm

This process does work on the Alltel, US Cellular, Cricket and "DST" or Generic V9M firmware... I know, because I've used each of those firmwares on my V9M and tested it

BUT its not the preferred way... since (as I stated on those pages), the MyToneDB.DB is the index to all ring tones on the phone... when it gets recreated, the index numbers change, so that means your already chosen custom ring tone selections will change (i.e. Ring Styles and ringer id's)

The latest Alltel V9M firmware that I can get my hands on DOES support Bluetooth OBEX FTP for putting ring tones onto the phone, and you don't need to delete the MyToneDB.DB this way.. the phone updates it correctly as you add the tones. Same holds true for the USC, Cricket, and DST firmwares.

(Btw, I have the following Alltel V9M firmware versions... 02.0c.14 and 02.0C.19)

Posted by: Mark_Venture

Quote:

Originally Posted by don16006

Are all of the Alltel BB Pearls uncrippled or did you get an uncrippled one that they had left over? Can you download your own ringtones and make a phone to phone BT connection?

It has been my experience (dealing with BB's from Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile) that blackberries do not get locked in any way...

Bluetooth OPP for pictures and tones still works... (at least on those 4 carriers)... the only thing I've seen locked has been GPS on VZW's Pearl. It is locked to only be used with VZW's Nav app... rather than anything else, where as Sprint, ATT and T-Mo all can use TeleNav...

Posted by: gina0906

I have the v3a and I downloaded the pzk commander and transferred the songs to my phone as ringtones and it works great, but when I deleted some of the ringtones that I did not want through the p2k they deleted out of my sounds but when I go to my phonebook to apply a ringtone the sounds that I deleted are still in the phonebook part but they will not play cause the are deleted sounds so I was wondering if there is anyway that I can get those songs deleted out of my phonebook ringtones. Thanks

Posted by: lozano87

Hello all,
I purchased a Z6m from Alltel right around when they first came out. The phone ended up being defective so Alltel replaced it right away with a different one however, this one is locked and i'm pretty mad that I can't figure out how to load ringtones onto it. I used to just use MPT to do everything with my phone and am a total n00b when it comes to using all the other softwares can anyone point me in the right direction, i.e. what i should be familiar with and what to do bc i'm pretty lost here. Thanks!

Posted by: Mark_Venture

Quote:

Originally Posted by gina0906

I have the v3a and I downloaded the pzk commander and transferred the songs to my phone as ringtones and it works great, but when I deleted some of the ringtones that I did not want through the p2k they deleted out of my sounds but when I go to my phonebook to apply a ringtone the sounds that I deleted are still in the phonebook part but they will not play cause the are deleted sounds so I was wondering if there is anyway that I can get those songs deleted out of my phonebook ringtones. Thanks

after deleting the files... did you also delete the MyToneDB.DB file then restart the phone?

Btw, I suggest you delete ring tones via the PHONE's MENU if at all possible. I know, the built in stock ringers are a different story.. but..

Posted by: kokane

Hello,
I just bought a Razr2 v9m for Alltel and im having the same problem that you guys are having but i cant catch on 2 how u guys are doing it, does any1 have a simplified set of instructions of wat i need 2 do so i can apply my custom ringtones as ringtones on my phone?

EDIT - also does any1 know how to like take off the Alltel Logo wen u open the razr2 like on the external display and change it 2 the Motorola symbol like it is on at&t phones

Posted by: thetrask90

Im a little hesitant to do any of this modifying with my phone because im afraid i could do something wrong and ruin my phone, or worse void my warranty. does this modifying void a warranty?

Posted by: Mark_Venture

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokane

Hello,
I just bought a Razr2 v9m for Alltel and im having the same problem that you guys are having but i cant catch on 2 how u guys are doing it, does any1 have a simplified set of instructions of wat i need 2 do so i can apply my custom ringtones as ringtones on my phone?

Have you looked at -> http://mark.cdmaforums.com/V9M-P2KC.htm
and the link it contains to -> http://mark.cdmaforums.com/P2KC-Tones.htm ??

that is as simple as its going to get.

Notice the FILE LOCATIONS link on that 2nd link... read it.. you will see that ring tones get put in /motorola/shared/audio folder... not /motorola/shared/ringtone if it exists. and you MUST follow the notes about the /MyToneDB.DB file in the bottom paragraph.

US Cellular notes apply to the Alltel firmware

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokane

EDIT - also does any1 know how to like take off the Alltel Logo wen u open the razr2 like on the external display and change it 2 the Motorola symbol like it is on at&t phones

See -> http://mark.cdmaforums.com/FlipGraphic.htm
(it was item #40 off the HOW TO's page...)

again, see the US Cellular firmware info...

Posted by: kokane

thanks ill have to try it. Does anyone have the external graphic gif for the motorola v9m logo its like a stylized M purplish

Posted by: Mark_Venture

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokane

thanks ill have to try it. Does anyone have the external graphic gif for the motorola v9m logo its like a stylized M purplish

How about looking at -> http://mark.cdmaforums.com/FlipGraphic.htm

Posted by: cairns5

i went to the link on your post Sheila and it talks about verison, but did it work for you since you have alltel?? I have alltel and was wanting to get around thier block also. Thanks so much

Posted by: Mark_Venture

Quote:

Originally Posted by cairns5

i went to the link on your post Sheila and it talks about verison, but did it work for you since you have alltel?? I have alltel and was wanting to get around thier block also. Thanks so much

see post #22 of this thread.

Posted by: sheillia

I have Alltel and it worked for me on my Motorola Rokr. Good luck!

Posted by: cairns5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark_Venture

see post #22 of this thread.

Thank you very much!!

Posted by: cairns5

thank you very much!!

Posted by: cairns5

Please help i have followed mark's directions, but i cannot seem to get it to work. Can you please explain it to me in laymans terms, i am not computer illiterate but for some reason cant get this figure out. Much help is appreciated. Thank You

Posted by: Mark_Venture

Quote:

Originally Posted by cairns5

Please help i have followed mark's directions, but i cannot seem to get it to work. Can you please explain it to me in laymans terms, i am not computer illiterate but for some reason cant get this figure out. Much help is appreciated. Thank You

Please explain what you dont under stand...

i.e. quote the text.. say what you think it means.. We'll tell you how close you are...

Posted by: scottmac112

WTF is the deal? I just wrote a howto on this very subject. I put in the subject that it should be stickied! On this very subject! Mark, you seem like one of those baton wavers (aka moderators). Sticky it!

Posted by: GoldMembr

Here is the new seem edit to re enable the "Apply as RingTone" option for the newer Alltel 02.0D.0BP V9m and Z6m firmware.

Seem 2742 Record 0001
Offset 00b8, Bit 0 - Off, Turns back on "Apply as RingTone" for new Alltel 02.0D.0BP firmware

Posted by: cairns5

where is that info at on my phone motorola rokr and how do i change it? Thank you

Posted by: Mark_Venture

Quote:

Originally Posted by cairns5

where is that info at on my phone motorola rokr and how do i change it? Thank you

If you meen the Seem Edit values that GoldMembr posted...

To make the change, you need to seem edit your phone, and have the software to do it.

A guide for how to seem edit -> http://mark.cdmaforums.com/V710_SeemEdit.htm It is a little dated so I'm working on updating it...

In the requirement section... Skip 2 & 3, instead use 3A to install MSU and its drivers. Use MSU running the the back ground when using P2Kseem....

That guide was written using an EXAMPLE set of values for a different model phone... so make sure you use the ones GoldMembr posted in this thread (oh, and when bytes isn't specified when someone posts Seem values, then assume Bytes (h) = 0000).

Posted by: Primuss

Quick question for Mark or Goldmember,
I've got a razr2 from alltel and the sw version is 02.0c.19a, when I go to
Offset 00b8, Bit 0 - Off the Bit 0 is already not checked. Do I enable it? I did double check and try to update the sw through the phone, but it says the software is up to date. Any suggestions?

After lurking and reading some more, I figured out I will have to flash my phone myself to Goldmember's version right?

Posted by: Mark_Venture

Quote:

Originally Posted by Primuss

After lurking and reading some more, I figured out I will have to flash my phone myself to Goldmember's version right?

I've been using the US Cellular firmware on my V9M, I only had the Alltel on there for a short time, so I can't advise...

Posted by: hdee

I've read through this thread about a hundred times, so I appologize if someone has already asked this but...

2 questions:

1) Can ringtones be added using Moto Phone Tools instead of the P2k software? If so, is there instructions on this? MPT is much more "hdee friendly" than the scary P2k software.

2) If I use the p2k software, how likely am I to totally screw my phone up and can it be fixed by the "knowlegable" Alltel folks?

Thanks in advance!

Posted by: hdee

... 2 days... no reply...

Posted by: likes2stare

Quote:

Originally Posted by Primuss

Quick question for Mark or Goldmember,
I've got a razr2 from alltel and the sw version is 02.0c.19a, when I go to
Offset 00b8, Bit 0 - Off the Bit 0 is already not checked. Do I enable it? I did double check and try to update the sw through the phone, but it says the software is up to date. Any suggestions?

After lurking and reading some more, I figured out I will have to flash my phone myself to Goldmember's version right?

If I'm not mistaken, your sw version 02.0c.19a, already allows you to "apply as ringtone". L2S

Posted by: gstyle003

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark_Venture

FYI... if you do NOT delete the MyToneDB.DB file... the ring tones will not show in ring styles...

If you want them to show in ring styles... delete the MyToneDB.DB file. Hence why it is stated on...

http://mark.cdmaforums.com/V9M-P2KC.htm
and the link it contains to -> http://mark.cdmaforums.com/P2KC-Tones.htm

This process does work on the Alltel, US Cellular, Cricket and "DST" or Generic V9M firmware... I know, because I've used each of those firmwares on my V9M and tested it

I deleted the mytonedb file and then restarted the phone, it worked for the ringtones that were on at the time, but once i added new mp3s the new ones dont show up as ringers. any suggestions..

Posted by: likes2stare

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstyle003

I deleted the mytonedb file and then restarted the phone, it worked for the ringtones that were on at the time, but once i added new mp3s the new ones dont show up as ringers. any suggestions..

Yeah, post #40 of this thread. L2S

Posted by: Primuss

Liketostare, no the sw doesn't allow me to apply as. When I first got the phone I could, but then one day I went to show a friend how easy it was and it was gone. I guess they can push updates to the phone?

Posted by: MaxLV

My sister has been with Alltel for awhile now. I'm with another carrier. I used to send her ringtones all the time via MMS, and she would apply them as a ringtone. However, for the past couple months, she hasn't been receiving them.

I think I can safely assume Alltel has blocked receiving MMS audio aswell?