Want a non-branded N95 on Vodafone?

[neilmallon]

Just had a quick search and it's not been mentioned so...

There are a couple of options if you want to get a Nokia N95 with full capability (mainly SIP).

1. Get one from Vodafone and make them give you a written guarantee that they will honour the warranty if you re-flash to the generic non-brand firmware.

2. Buy/upgrade to an N95 on Vodafone in a Nokia Shop. My mate has got an N95 from Nokia for the same price I bought mine and his is an unbranded one.

Neil

[gadgetman]

Originally Posted by neilmallon

1. Get one from Vodafone and make them give you a written guarantee that they will honour the warranty if you re-flash to the generic non-brand firmware.

LOL, they aren't likely to do that! We have a user who works for them, who Im sure will confirm my thoughts.

[andykn]

Originally Posted by neilmallon

Just had a quick search and it's not been mentioned so...

There are a couple of options if you want to get a Nokia N95 with full capability (mainly SIP).

1. Get one from Vodafone and make them give you a written guarantee that they will honour the warranty if you re-flash to the generic non-brand firmware.

2. Buy/upgrade to an N95 on Vodafone in a Nokia Shop. My mate has got an N95 from Nokia for the same price I bought mine and his is an unbranded one.

Neil

That may depend on the territory. I think that Nokia shops in the UK are run by The Carphone Warehouse - you may well get a branded phone from them. Is your mate's on Vodafone too? The O2 CPW N95s look unbranded but holding down the # key doesn't switch between General and Silent profiles on them.

Expansys offer SIM free phones and also reductions with a contract - they may still supply the SIM free handset.

No 1 I'm sure will be a non starter.

On the more general warranty point, I don't think that Vodafone could cite warranty violation if your microphone broke or you had a wobbly slider and have it stand up legally. If you brick the phone while upgrading they could refuse to fix it, but if its that badly bricked they may not bother investigating too far.

I returned a Vodafone N80 three times for a firmware update recommended by Club Nokia and they even replaced it before realising that Vodafone hadn't released the update. So I don't fear their forensic abilities much.

[Anarchi]

I think the trick in getting an unbranded N95 is to get your phone from a Reseller of the major networks.

For example, Soul resell the Optus network here. My N95 was received unbranded and uses the Optus network.

It may be the same with Vodafone resellers.

[neilmallon]

Originally Posted by gadgetman

LOL, they aren't likely to do that! We have a user who works for them, who Im sure will confirm my thoughts.

They have said they'll honour mine if its reflashed. (by a Nokia Service Centre).

Originally Posted by andykn

Is your mate's on Vodafone too? The O2 CPW N95s look unbranded but holding down the # key doesn't switch between General and Silent profiles on them.

And the "unbranded" phone my mate has on Vodafone has full SIP functionality - the same as my re-flashed Vodafone.

Neil

[gadgetman]

Originally Posted by neilmallon

They have said they'll honour mine if its reflashed. (by a Nokia Service Centre).

Nokia NSC WILL NOT remove network branding. Nokia will remove their NSC status if they are caught, and Voda know this - hence saying what they have.

So they know if you do get flashed, then you did it yourself = bye bye warranty with Voda. Nokia warranty is now specific about removing branding too.

I really hope all the debranders don't get left with an expensive brick if theirs ever developed a fault.

Voiding the warranty (sticky) - Software Updates - Nokia Support Discussions
Firmware upgrades. (Sticky) - Hardware, Codes, and Operator Issues - Nokia Support Discussions

[neilmallon]

Originally Posted by gadgetman

Nokia NSC WILL NOT remove network branding. Nokia will remove their NSC status if they are caught, and Voda know this - hence saying what they have.

Not true, call a few NSC's and ask if they will re-flash. They have told me "yes we'll do it but charge you £20 and it'll void the warranty".

Neil

[andykn]

Originally Posted by neilmallon

They have said they'll honour mine if its reflashed. (by a Nokia Service Centre).



And the "unbranded" phone my mate has on Vodafone has full SIP functionality - the same as my re-flashed Vodafone.

Neil

Yes, they'll honour it if its reflashed - with updated Vodafone firmware, but not if its unbranded.

Legally they'd be on dodgy ground if they refused warranty on an unbranded phone if the slider was faulty say. If it was bricked I doubt they'd spot it. Some networks will just courier out a replacement phone for an on site swap and are unlikely to subsequently chase if they decide its been unbranded.

Do you know the Product Code or Operator Variant of your mate's N95, he might have been lucky and been given an early unbranded phone.

[gadgetman]

Originally Posted by neilmallon

Not true, call a few NSC's and ask if they will re-flash. They have told me "yes we'll do it but charge you £20 and it'll void the warranty".

Which begs the question, WHY take the risk? You'll eiether have topay for repairs (which could be costly), or be left with a dead £500/$1000 phone.

Why take the risk?