vB Easy Archive - Questions From A Confusing New Treo 650 User.

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Questions From A Confusing New Treo 650 User.
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Posted by: sj_pan

Hello!

I just purchased an used GSM Treo 650 and confusing about the Firmware/Software/unlock/unbrand issue.

*My phone has a cingular logo at top of the screen.

*The phone is SIM unlocked when I purchase it. (Have no idea how the former user unlocked it.)

*My T-Mobile SIM card is in the slot and working now.

*From my Phone Info page, I got:
Firmware: 01.31
Software: Treo650-1.15-CNB
Hardware: A

*There's no cingular logo in the OS desktop.

*When I have my T-Mobile SIM card in and turn on the phone, I got Cingular Hello! screen.

I am not sure what is the best firmware/software should be install now. But I prefer to fully unbrand and sim unlock my phone. (That means I can use the unlocked GSM updater from PalmOne's website later and my phone can still be sim unlocked without any problem.) After reading some discussion threads around forums, I am very confused. >"<

1. Can anyone give me some pros and cons information of different versions of firmware/software installed? (for example, which version of the firmware can still have DUN, etc.)

2. If I need to do firmware and/or software update (not very clear about the differences betweem firmware and software), what's the safe and right procedures for me to do?

Thanks for your reading and kind helps.

Cheer,

Edit: One more thing to mention/ask here:
When my T-Mobile SIM card in the slot, I can't check "SIM Services". It's pop up a warrning:

Unable to retrieve the SIM Services menu.

Either there are no SIM services provided by your mobile operator, or there was an error when talking to your SIM.

Is this normal? Do I need to ask T-Mobile to change my SIM card?

Posted by: snugglebunny

Your phone has the Cingular firmware installed, but it has been hacked or else legally unlocked.

To upgrade firmware, the appropriate firmware would be Cingular's. It isn't supposed to clear the unlock, but it MIGHT.

There are ways to load the GSM (general) or T-Mobile firmware onto your phone if you run into that problem.

SIM services? Carrier dependent. Yours probably doesn't support them.

Posted by: xynos

Once your phone is unlocked, it will not be locked if you did a firmware upgrade. Also, one more thing, if you do have a locked device, you can always call Tmo and they will unlock it for you. You will need your phone's IMEI.

Posted by: sj_pan

Thanks a lot for all your nice replies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snugglebunny

Your phone has the Cingular firmware installed, but it has been hacked or else legally unlocked.

To upgrade firmware, the appropriate firmware would be Cingular's. It isn't supposed to clear the unlock, but it MIGHT.

There are ways to load the GSM (general) or T-Mobile firmware onto your phone if you run into that problem.

SIM services? Carrier dependent. Yours probably doesn't support them.

I asked the guy selling me this unlocked phone for unlock code in case I need it in the future. However, he said he doesn't have it. On the original box have a sticker which have the original IMEI/ICCID/MSN barcode stick partially covered, and have hand writting "Unlocked (S)" on it.

All of these make me feel scary to do any firmware upgrade/downgrade/unbrand or even doing a hard reset. That's why I would like to obtain some nice experience sharing here before I do anything.

T-Mobile only got Treo 600, they don't provide Treo 650. Therefore, there's no T-Mobile firmware version available. But at PalmOne's official support page, there's a unlocked GSM firmware version. That's exactly the one I prefer to load but don't know how to do it right. >"<

Quote:

Originally Posted by sxynos

Once your phone is unlocked, it will not be locked if you did a firmware upgrade. Also, one more thing, if you do have a locked device, you can always call Tmo and they will unlock it for you. You will need your phone's IMEI.

I hope your "T-Moblie service way" is true. Since I have no idea if my phone been hack-unlocked or code-unlocked, I think I will do a backup and do the hard reset. If the SIM lock comes back, I can just pay some money on eBay to do unlock again (which is sucks :P). But what I afraid most is my phone goes to the wrost case after hard reset--- can no longer work properly. This make me have a paperweight cost me $500.

Posted by: xynos

You need to find out if its an AT&T or a Cingular version of firmware. You could flash the firmware for the unbranded Treo, but you need to flash to a beta firmware first before you could flash with the firmware. I suggest that you get the Cingular firmware, as its probably your Palm.