HOWTO: Flash TMO-TM506 to CB-TM506

[danska]

The unbranded/cin bell software has a built in email client. Better than gmail client i think. Has push email too if you use imap (not pop3). I use it on my gmail account and works well.

[maiki]

Cin Bell just happened to have the same model phone so instead of t-mobile software, they put their own in it.

Is Cincinnati Bell the name of a cell phone carrier? I never heard of it before. It sounds like the name of a baby bell-a local landline telco, in Cincinnati of course.

Also, one might assume that the TM506 was made especially for T-Mobile--especially with that TM in the model number. I'm surprised to hear another carrier has it as well. Or is the phone model changed with them to CB506?

Just curious--any links to the carrier Cincinnati Bell, and their offering that phone for sale?

[Riverman]

Some of the Baby Bells offer their own cell phones, using leased airtime from the major carriers. One of the old Bells does the same thing here in Seattle. If you Google Cincinnati Bell TM506, their page for it is the first thing that comes up.

[maiki]

Some of the Baby Bells offer their own cell phones, using leased airtime from the major carriers. One of the old Bells does the same thing here in Seattle. If you Google Cincinnati Bell TM506, their page for it is the first thing that comes up.

You're right. I tried it before without the letters TM, and nothing about cell phone service or that phone came up. When I added the TM, it came up.

I assume they are probably leasing their cell phone service from T-Mobile, to be using a T-Mo phone. And for the phone to get 3G on that band, it definitely has to be T-Mo service.

I'm surprised they created their own ROM for the phone.


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Come to think of it, here in California, I don't think there are any baby bells any more. The major one here was Pacific Bell, later bought up (or merged into) SBC, which later became part of ATT. (Now isn't that interesting--the great phone deregulation was to separate local from long distance companies, then they allowed the latter to buy the former back up! The other major carrier for local phone service in California is Verizon, also a long distance and cell company. What happened to breaking up the monopoly?

[Riverman]

I'm surprised they created their own ROM for the phone.

It's more like they took the stock Sony-Ericsson firmware and changed two links in the menu. If they were any bigger, it probably would've been customized more like the original T-Mobile version.

[maiki]

Some of the Baby Bells offer their own cell phones, using leased airtime from the major carriers. One of the old Bells does the same thing here in Seattle. If you Google Cincinnati Bell TM506, their page for it is the first thing that comes up.

Also looking at that page--doesn't seem to be a very good deal! Cin Bell charges $90 for the phone (now available for free many places for T-Mo, or $20), and you have to have a rate plan $60 or up! I assume T-Mo service is available directly in Cincinnati--I don't know why anyone would pay more for the service and phone through CinBell? (To get the better ROM? Well-it's available here for T-Mo users in any case!)

[maiki]

It's more like they took the stock Sony-Ericsson firmware and changed two links in the menu. If they were any bigger, it probably would've been customized more like the original T-Mobile version.

Is the stock SE firmware also available anywhere?

[Scottish Skyedance]

Is the stock SE firmware also available anywhere?

yes
my green TM506 is generic SE version (has PlayNow)
see my previous thread, I posted the CDA

[maiki]

Tools Needed:
1. Sony Ericsson Upgrade Service
2. A2Uploader
3. Save the following as Customize_upgrade.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<customization>
  <info>
    <cda-number>1218-2095</cda-number>
  </info>
</customization>

[

Something I don't understand. In the tools listed above, I don't see a file that actually looks like it is the CinBell firmware. Or is that somehow embedded into the A2 uploader? Or does it get downloaded in the process?

Can someone explain? Thank you.

[Scottish Skyedance]

Something I don't understand. In the tools listed above, I don't see a file that actually looks like it is the CinBell firmware. Or is that somehow embedded into the A2 uploader? Or does it get downloaded in the process?

Can someone explain? Thank you.

drag and drop the file into /tpa/preset/custom folder
of get the Customize.xml.txt from tmonews, and rename it as Customize_upgrade.xml

note: if you want SE version, use this CDA instead
1217-0527

[sendpaulmailat]

Something I don't understand. In the tools listed above, I don't see a file that actually looks like it is the CinBell firmware. Or is that somehow embedded into the A2 uploader? Or does it get downloaded in the process?

Can someone explain? Thank you.

The CinBell firmware is on Sony Ericsson's site. You get it through SEUS. The A2 Uploader is used to set up the configuration file on the phone that SEUS will look at when you connect to it to see what is the appropriate firmware for your phone. At least that is how I interpret the process.

[jet1000]

Doesn't the Java Gmail app work in the TM506 out of the box? If not, why? Is the phone's Java app (midlet manager) incapable of running it? Does the different ROM have a different midlet manager, which can handle Gmail.

How about Opera Mini?

How about Google Maps?

Yes, they run out of the box. The Google applications have had trouble being installed from the google site. You can get an Invalid Application error when you start to download. That's why SD provided alternate links that should work: (see post #1)

http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...6&page=1&pp=15

[dxhofo]

I really like T-mo's contact auto sync (with subscriber's online account) feature. So, would it still be there after flashing to CB firmware?

[jet1000]

I really like T-mo's contact auto sync (with subscriber's online account) feature. So, would it still be there after flashing to CB firmware?

I believe after flashing to CB, you need to install Scottish's customize.xml that he designed for CB. Then you should be able to auto sync the contacts.

[Antenna]

I'm still a little slow with SE's....where do you go in the A2uploader to delete out the Opera mini, tel-nav, and weather clients? I'll keep the google maps because it seems to work very well with the GPS, but the others I don't want.