w880i Unlock + Debrand CID52 on Voda info required.

chaotic_j · 8 January 2008 at 12:19AM

I have a Sony Ericsson w880i locked to VODAFONE.

It is CID52.

I would like to have it unlocked, and debranded.

I am informed that since it is the latest protection against unlocking, it will cost the most to unlock.

The only place I found that can unlock it is davinci (which I have used before) at a cost of 50 euros i.e. £35

Now I would like to know if there is anywhere cheaper I can have it done?

Even better, is there a device that I can purchase and used in conjunction with some software to unlock the phone myself? even if this is expensive hardware, I would consider it..

Also the debranding there costs 20 euros, I found wotanserver which I think can do it for only 7.50 euros. Any information on this anyone has?

Lastly, I believe that since its Vodafone, two buttons are switched with two other buttons. I checked my friends w880i on THREE this evening and confirmed it.

So if I have it flashed with a generic firmware will it just be a matter of learning that the buttons are the other way around i.e. a minor aggravation?

Thanks in advance.

chaotic_j · 8 January 2008 at 1:35PM

Hi Duncan,

Thanks for the post. If you can debrand for free, how is it done? Would I be able to do it myself (I'm quite able to operate programs et cetera, quite technical minded..)

I'm not sure whether Vodafone would buy that story.. I don't mind paying to have it done, it's just that £35 is too much really. Is davinci the only place that can do it? (other than Vodafone etc..)

Cheers!

mobyfix · 8 January 2008 at 2:35PM

Can't answer anymore than that

As an engineer we use a product called Cruiser or SEtool 3 to unlock and debrand Sony Ericsson phones... this equipment is obviously too expensive to buy to debrand and unlock a phone.

I believe that davinci offers a CID52 unlock by patching option cheaper.. this works just as well providing you do not upgrade the firmware latter on through a shop or through Sony Ericsson later. ( unlikely )

I believe that both SEtool and Cruiser use the patching option

You may be surprised about the Vodafone shop option I gave you... Any shop staff can get the code while you wait... and you may find they give it free if you give a convincing story....

I have had many vodacodes free from friendly staff !!

Duncan

gaming_guy · 8 January 2008 at 4:49PM

or use the guide i posted on how to debrand SE phones for free

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=426238

also dont forget that the red and green call buttons will become the internet and activity menu buttons after a debrand

chaotic_j · 9 January 2008 at 9:04PM

Hey guys,

Thanks for the additional advice, some very helpful comments here.

I ended up getting it unlocked by eBay seller 'freestylejin' who I have actually used before, you tell him your IMEI and he tells you if he can unlock it. Only Vodafone network phones.

It only cost £10 and he sent me a code within minutes - highly recommended.

Now about the debranding, I may look at the free way to do it, my current firmware is CID52 R6BC002.

Which firmware(s) would I have to seek out to upgrade? Would it actually be worth it?

gaming_guy · 9 January 2008 at 9:43PM

chaotic_j wrote: »

Hey guys,

Thanks for the additional advice, some very helpful comments here.

I ended up getting it unlocked by eBay seller 'freestylejin' who I have actually used before, you tell him your IMEI and he tells you if he can unlock it. Only Vodafone network phones.

It only cost £10 and he sent me a code within minutes - highly recommended.

Now about the debranding, I may look at the free way to do it, my current firmware is CID52 R6BC002.

Which firmware(s) would I have to seek out to upgrade? Would it actually be worth it?

i think the latest f/w for the w880 is R8BA024.

debranding is well worth it, as you get flash menus and other features like better menu icons that voda have most likely disabled

chaotic_j · 10 January 2008 at 2:47PM

Hi gaming_guy,

Thanks but I can't get your guide to work. I got all three downloads as instructed, my phone wouldn't detect via XS++ so I had to download the USB drivers for my phone.

I got a package with the w880i signed USB drivers.

I followed instructions on another site - take battery out of phone, sim and memory card. Put battery back in, power on using "C" key and keep it held, then plug in USB.

I managed to get most of the drivers installed when my finger slipped on this silly keypad, and now I don't think all the drivers are installed. I've repeated the same procedure a few times but I can't get to install the drivers, and when I show hidden devices in the device manager I can only see one driver for the w880i which is a miniport driver, and it won't let me uninstall it because it says that it may be required for Windows to boot up.

So now I am in a predicament and I don't know what to do... not to mention not knowing where to find the correct firmwares even..

chaotic_j · 10 January 2008 at 3:38PM

I just called Sony Ericsson technical support and they told me that I needed to install the "PC Suite" before I can install these drivers.

I just installed the "PC Suite" and I still can't install these drivers..

chaotic_j · 10 January 2008 at 10:10PM

Still can't get XS++ to detect my phone.

I tried the same procedure with my old phone (w810i) and it works just fine.. so I'm really confused as to what has gone wrong.

I had to roll back my computer to an earlier date since it ended up bluescreening so no drivers for the w880i were installed. I installed all the drivers again correctly, so really it should be functioning by now..

The_Madmouse · 10 January 2008 at 10:13PM

what version of windows are you using XS++ on?

what does the XS++ log say?...i've de branded a p990i & a w580 and didnt need pc suite installed

chaotic_j · 10 January 2008 at 11:21PM

w880i Unlock + Debrand CID52 on Voda info required.

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free