debrand warranty.

[Stone]

Hello, is there a document of some sort where one could read information surrounding debranding a hand set?

I know:

• debranding will void the handset manufacturers warranty
• you cannot downgrade the firmware
• if you try to rebrand your hand set back to its original firmware, the chance of you encountering a problem greatly outweighs the success of this process downgrading

What I want to know:

1. If I have upgraded the firmware and there is an official release of the same firmware from the network provider who provided the handset as the version I have previously put on it, will this put me back into a valid warranty (if of course the debranding is never spoken of)?
   
   thanks in advance.

[dtm]

Yes it will aslong as you dont mention it because they cant really tell you changed the product code back and forth. Im waiting for T-Mobile to release v20 then i will rebrand as theres does not seem to be crippled in any way.

[sp00k]

Originally Posted by Stone

...What I want to know:

1. If I have upgraded the firmware and there is an official release of the same firmware from the network provider who provided the handset as the version I have previously put on it, will this put me back into a valid warranty (if of course the debranding is never spoken of)?
   
   thanks in advance.

As the official release would replace the existing firmware and therefore re-brand it to the telco, how would they know that it had ever been de-branded?

EDIT: Alas! I couldn't be more wrong! See later posts. :(

[Stone]

Thank you dtm.

I dont know sp00k, thats why Im asking. They may still some how be able to tell it has been configued before (i.e. increment system to tell if phone has been updated, if it has, +1 to some sort of data recorder and compare with repair/refurb records), a wild and uneducated guess but nevertheless, I dont know how or if they are able to tell hence me posting this.

dtm, is your reply an educated reply (i.e. information from a credible source such as someone from the nokia warranty dept.) or other?

I tried used the search function to get a thread specifically detailing the ins and outs for the warranty that surround de/re branding handsets but couldnt find any.

If anyone has some industry knowledge or knowledge about this from a credible source rathar than that from hear say and can post some evidence of it (i.e. ht link), please do post up, Im sure many others are willing to know the same thing as I am.

[sp00k]

One of the features of the n95 is that the user is able to flash the firmware themselves, at one time it was a big selling-point, nowhere have I ever read that the user was forbidden to flash to anything other than the firmware approved by a telco, nor have I seen any examples of warranties being voided by doing this.

I can't see there being a flash-counter embedded in the phone, like a lifetime counter, much less a flash-counter that records altered product codes!

It's the work of a few minutes for Service centres to flash to whatever firmware they suppose it should have and most will probably do this as a matter of course, just as we would hard-reset to cure a possible OS glitch... I doubt that they care what firmware it arrives with, after all, it won't be the telcos that carry out the assessment and repairs, I shouldn't think.

You may be being just a trifle over-cautious IMO ;)


EDIT: Alas! I couldn't be more wrong! See later posts. :(

[Stone]

Thank you sp00k.

Originally Posted by sp00k

nowhere have I ever read that the user was forbidden to flash to anything other than the firmware approved by a telco, nor have I seen any examples of warranties being voided by doing this.

You may be being just a trifle over-cautious IMO ;)

hah, lets not beat around the bush, I am being cautious. Ive already debranded with success and understood the consequences of me doing so.

What youve said above is exactly why Im posting this thread, to find out whether it does or does not affect warranty with evidence to suggest and support the reason for either and I am trying to find something that in one thread/post shows this.

The evidence with some sort of documentation would be a sure way to be fully aware of making such decisions and would be very useful information to access.

The warranty is that nokia had is void in itself in that for electrical products, we as consumers have a statutory rights that extend much further past a '2 year' cut off point. (consumer purchase rights Consumer rights: how to make 'em play fair... which for devices such as handsets can still last for up to 5 years, this reduces products make for time. also have a successful personal experience of this but thats another story).

Its just within that 2 year period, processes move a lot more faster.

thanks again sp00k.

[Calamity]

Many people have posted on these forums suggesting it hasn't affected their warranty at all.

[Stone]

Hello calamity, do you know where these posts are?

Ive looked for them but I couldnt find any, all I could find was just comments like "Im sure it..." type posts, rather than, "Ive sent my phone to nokia/telecom prov. and have had it repaired/repaired so I know for a fact it hasnt invalidated my warranty".

If you could be so kind as to post up a link or two, that would be fantastic.

thanks.

[dtm]

I have sent mine into the service centre debranded and nothing was said. I think as sp00k said you are being over-cautious. Besides some posts on here say when people sent there phones into the service centre they got them back debranded with the latest firmware on. You can take your phone to a service centre and ask them to put on the latest firmware if you really are worried.

[Stone]

Thank you dtm.

Originally Posted by dtm

1. I have sent mine into the service centre debranded and nothing was said.

2. Besides some posts on here say when people sent there phones into the service centre they got them back debranded with the latest firmware on.

You can take your phone to a service centre and ask them to put on the latest firmware if you really are worried.

Your comments are exactly what I wanted to hear.

1. When you say debranded, did you also upgrade the firmware or debranded and kept the current firmware as supplied by the telecom?

2. Thats not a problem because if it does go kaput, the modification was made by an authorised person and should anything happen, you are covered.

Thanks for posting.