Phone debranding

I have posted this on another forum, it was found useful so hope to share it here. This mainly applies to Nokia Smartphones (and other Nokia models), but the principals are the same for any phone.

This is phone 'debranding'. Debranding won't make your phone sim-lock free, and for anyone with BB5 phones, like most newer Nokias, it's still impossible to do it yourself at the moment. Debranding will take off all your network's own rubbish though, and release other restrictions your phone has. To give an example, my Nokia 6630 on 3 was restricted to version 4 of the software as this was the latest 3 had released, Nokia's latest non-branded software is 6.03.08. 3 restrict this phone so that you can't choose to use GSM only, you're forced to use dual mode that can cause problems in patchy coverage areas. On Vodafone, their software restricts certain MP3 playback and the like. I've found upgrading my software makes the phone faster, more responsive and unlike the version 4 software will make it almost instantly connect and disconnect from my bluetooth devices, which it was harder to previously.

Here's a note of caution. By debranding the software, it's not illegal, but it may be against the terms of your contract - 3 don't like it because you get a new menu in which you can choose to switch to GSM only rather than the default 'dual mode', 3 don't own any GSM transmitters so this costs them money and is for a backup only - if you suddenly make lots of GSM calls it's not unknown for them to call you and ask why. You may also invalidate any warranty.

Shops charge anything up to £30 to debrand a phone. Here's how to do it for free.

Do a google search for 'NSS Nemesis'. This is Nemesis Service Suite. You can find full instructions how to use this on google too. You will also need a product code for your phone. This is normally behind the battery on a label, but this code is the code specifically for your network - so when you use the Nokia's update software it looks at your code, checks its database and gives you what it has for that code. What you need to do is change this code, using NSS, to the generic code for your phone. On a 6630 for instance the code is 0518104. If you get stuck googling for a code, try typing in '0518104 Nokia' and you'll get some sites that have lists of codes.

Now your phone is set to the generic code for the device, this is where the good bit happens. Connect the phone to your PC as you would normally, such as USB. Use the Nokia software to check for updates (WARNING - back up anything you want to save, you will lose it otherwise). It will tell you there is a software update, and would you like to proceed (double check your phone is correct using the on-screen model number and compare the picture with your phone - is this your phone being displayed on screen? If not you've entered the wrong product code, and updating the wrong software can damage your phone, go back and change the code using NSS to the right code).

Once you've proceeded, your phone will reboot, and on a Nokia you can then check it's the latest version by keying *#0000#. You should then have a nice, fast, operator debranded, unrestricted phone without being screwed over from a shop wanting to charge you for this right. And I consider it a right - is it fair that you have paid for your phone, only to have your network operator restrict what you can do with it?

I hope this thread is useful, debranding my phone sounded complicated but in reality it takes only a few moments once you have downloaded NSS and found your product code, and my phone is lovely as a result, far better than before.