N95 on Three-Considering Debranding,will it effect my free MSN, Skype & Video Calls?

[opencube]

N95 on Three-Considering Debranding,will it effect my free MSN, Skype & Video Calls?

I have a N95 on the 3 Network.

I am looking to debrand the phone and upgrade to the latest nokia firmware so i can get better battery life and better camera performance.

I do not want to debrand if it is going to remove stuff i get for free on Three.

Will these be affected with the debrand?

1. Free MSN Sessions over 3G.
2. Free Skype over 3G
3. Video Call allowance from my Video Pack add on.

Thanks

[Blatant]

Hi opencube,

Welcome to the forum, I'm new here too, but am in your situation, et me share my experiances...

First off, a short sweet answer to your question, if you debrand and update your software:

YOU WILL LOSE ALL YOUR FREE 3 STUFF

I know this to my cost :)

I have an n95-2 (the 8gb one) also on 3. Because of the various problems I had, and after gleaning info from this forum I decided to update my software (which as you know on 3 is limited to v11.0.0.26) . So I de-branded my phone and run an update, SUCCESS! I updated to v15.0.0.015. But oh know!!!!!

In my haste, I didn't do a backup (stupid!!) and I found that after the update, the most important service (the 3 Launcher Application) was gone! The activation key for the Spiderman 3 Movie was also gone (understandably) and all the 3 pre-installed apps.

I have been in contact with 3 over this, and they are of no help (Be warned). The most reasonable advise I got (over like 6 calls to 3) was that if I take my handset to a nokia care center they can roll back to v11.0.0.26 for me.

I do plan to do this, BACK UP the 3 launcher application (btw, no-one at 3 seems to understand what this is!) and keys and stuff, and do another update to v15 then restore my 3 Launcher App.

I will keep you up to date as to how it goes at the Care Center....

[Blatant]

A more consise reply:

Originally Posted by opencube

1. Free MSN Sessions over 3G.

MSN is launched via the 3 launcher or the special bookmark 3 put on your phone, without this link its not free, so upgrading will lose it.

Originally Posted by opencube

2. Free Skype over 3G

The Skype package is also pre-loaded with the 3 stuff so you'll lose that. And again, your free skype launcher is part of the 3 Launcher so you'll lose that too.

Originally Posted by opencube

3. Video Call allowance from my Video Pack add on.

Video calls and your allowance are provided by the network, your phone won't lose this ability, you'll be able to make video calls and use your free video minutes

[Sexyback]

Yes, for a start it wipes your keys: this will include any MUSIC you have downloaded from the 3store(Believe me!!!!! I've been there and I was NOT happy!) so you wont be able to play any music you bought from them

Changing the product code will mean you will no longer be able to use msn etc...it will appear as "certficate error" as the phone will no longer be recognised by 3.

To be honest, you aren't missing out on these things. EBuddy covers msn and is free, theres a few Skype options that are free too. If I was you I'd chose the fw update over the 3 apps! v20 almost makes it a different phone!

[Blatant]

Originally Posted by Sexyback

. If I was you I'd chose the fw update over the 3 apps! v20 almost makes it a different phone!

Assuming its an N95-1, which allows up to version 20...

If your on the N95-2 (The black 8gb internal one) you can only go as high as v15 after rebrand...

Of course, after the firmware update, if you can get your 3 software back on you can always change the product code back ;)

Personally I do need the 3 Launcher, as trying to access the various services (facebook, ebay, ect) without the links supplied by 3/the 3 laucher costs...

[opencube]

Hi Sexyback,

Originally Posted by Sexyback

Changing the product code will mean you will no longer be able to use msn etc...it will appear as "certficate error" as the phone will no longer be recognised by 3.

This I believe has been solved by using this installer:

N95 debranded - Page 2 - 3G forum : your 3G community and resource.

Originally Posted by Sexyback

To be honest, you aren't missing out on these things. EBuddy covers msn and is free, theres a few Skype options that are free too. If I was you I'd chose the fw update over the 3 apps! v20 almost makes it a different phone!

Ebuddy is a good replacement, but I dont think it allows you to use your free msn entitlement over the 3g network (not wifi).

As for Skype, will a version of Skype for mobile which has been obtained from elsewhere other than three.co.uk , enable you to use your free monthly entitlement too?

[dayene]

you can use eqo mobile or fring for IM and skype.

[limdul]

Wonder if 3 UK uses other software than 3 DK I debranded my N95 updated to firmware and chanced the product code back again. The I just installed Skype, msn and my other applications from 3 by browsing to the 3 portal on my phone.

Only thing missing is the 3 Launcher app

[krazylegz]

i backed up my phone then upgraded to 20.0.015,then restored it but it never put my contacts or other things back on. is it possible to reinstall the 3 launcher using my back up as i'm now lost as to how much my next bill be lol

[mariokarter]

my msn is still very much free. Why use some nock off messenger when the official one works perfectly well? Anyways I can send it to you if you decide to debrand. It will use your data ofcourse.