Debranding a T-Mobile Vario II

Hooloovoo · 25-05-2007, 08:45

Well I took the plunge last night and signed up to T-Mobile and picked up my new Vario II.

Could someone link me to a tutorial for removing all the T-Mobile customisations that it installed when I first turned the thing on?

Is there a list somewhere of exactly what all the customisations are? I think I'd really just prefer a standard HTC TyTN - I've never been a fan of operator customisations.

iDan · 25-05-2007, 09:40

T-Mobile don't generally overbrand their phones, my N95 for example only has a WNW logo on the main menu, nothing else.

Not even a theme, ringtone, startup screen.... NOTHING!

Hooloovoo · 25-05-2007, 09:42

Oh right - maybe my Vario II does look like a normal HTC TyTN then and I'm just assuming it doesn't. It seems to have the horrible pink and white T-Mobile colour scheme but maybe that's just a theme that I can change easily. It's got a T-Mobile startup screen and a ring tone but I'm not too bothered about that.

I only had a quick play with it last night - I daren't bring it to work with me today otherwise I'd have spent all day playing with it and not got any work done. It'll have to wait until tonight...........

iDan · 25-05-2007, 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooloovoo

I only had a quick play with it last night - I daren't bring it to work with me today otherwise I'd have spent all day playing with it and not got any work done. It'll have to wait until tonight...........

You mean you actually do something at work?!

Wow...

Hooloovoo · 25-05-2007, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telly_Man

You mean you actually do something at work?!

Wow...

No I'm spending hours reading forums about the TyTN rather than spending hours playing with it. I should have just bought it in with me

I've got a few quid left on my Orange PAYG phone to use up yet though before I can port the number across. I was rather surprised when I called up Orange to ask for my PAC code just now that they didn't even ask me where I was going never mind offer me any incentive to stay.

iDan · 25-05-2007, 10:00

That's Orange for you!

Hooloovoo · 25-05-2007, 10:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telly_Man

That's Orange for you!

But on the plus side they did answer my call within seconds of me selecting the "talk to an adviser" option once I'd worked my way through the hundred menu choices.

I've yet to experience the joys of calling T-Mobile customer support and based on what I've read I'm not expecting much...........

iDan · 25-05-2007, 10:24

I've used Vodafone's customer service mainly in the past and they've always been absolutely fantastic.

I've spoken to T-Mobile's twice and they were alright. I asked a couple of simple questions and they were answered but not confidently.

Still, anything's better than 3!

andycat · 25-05-2007, 14:56

start>settings>today change theme from T-Mobile to another.

I've a Tytn and actually changed TO a T-mobile rom!

suniil · 25-05-2007, 15:02

try xda developers forum. i've de-branded, unlocked & enabled HSDPA on my Vario II a while ago (now using with 3 SIM & X-series)

snuffle_-_uk · 25-05-2007, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telly_Man

Still, anything's better than 3!

funniest hour of my life was listening to a workmate of mine trying to cancel his 3 contract during his lunchbreak

iDan · 25-05-2007, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by snuffle_-_uk

funniest hour of my life was listening to a workmate of mine trying to cancel his 3 contract during his lunchbreak

Haha. I can imagine! I've only ever heard bad things about 3.

metro69 · 26-05-2007, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by suniil

try xda developers forum. i've de-branded, unlocked & enabled HSDPA on my Vario II a while ago (now using with 3 SIM & X-series)

how did you get it working with x-series?

Hooloovoo · 01-06-2007, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by suniil

try xda developers forum. i've de-branded, unlocked & enabled HSDPA on my Vario II a while ago (now using with 3 SIM & X-series)

Thanks, I've been looking around XDA-developers for the last few days.

I've managed to find the default green HTC theme so I've put that on, and I've also found the green keypad phone dialler thingy so that's green now as well. Much nicer than the pink and white T-Mobile colours.

I turned off the T-Mobile quick-links on the today screen, and changed the web'n'walk hardware button to point directly to pocketIE. That's got rid of the annoying "you are about to go online" message.

So I think I'm pretty much de-branded now.

Though it would be nice to work out how to stop it doing ANY of the customisations that occur on first boot-up and after a hard-reset.

Why did you switch to a T-Mobile ROM? What was the advantage?

john newhouse · 01-06-2007, 21:34

completely off topic, but how are you finding the vario II?

i have just subscribed to another 18mth orange contract with the m700.
but i have just heard that the 'anytime' £8 gprs new orange tariff, is only for 30mb a month.

sod that, so i am cancelling that and strongly leaning towards the vario II on tmobile

Hooloovoo · 01-06-2007, 22:13

Pretty happy with it at the moment.

It's my first proper pocketPC device so I don't have much to compare it to. I do I have a few niggles with it, but they're mainly to do with WM5 rather than the device itself. For example - setting an all day event in the calendar doesn't show up as an upcoming event in the today screen. Only appointments with specific times show up.

It seems pretty speedy and responsive. The screen is much brighter and clearer compared to my old SE P800.

I've got it on Flext 20 because that worked out the cheapest over 18 months it just cost more for the phone up front. I don't have the web'n'walk option because I have wifi access pretty much everywhere I need - home, work, girlfriends house etc.

The way I see it is data access is limited to £1 per day so I can use GPRS/3G for up to seven days a month before web'n'walk would become more cost effective. That's probably enough for me. Plus the "fair use" policy is around 40MB per day I think so that's more than enough. I agree the new Orange data tarrif is a joke!

john newhouse · 01-06-2007, 22:30

that all sounds good to me,
i wont be needing anything close to 40mb a day,
but, psychologically, a 30mb monthly limit would not give me any confidence at all.

i think i will get the vario tomorrow when i launch my m700 back into the carphonewarehouse store tomorrow

suniil · 04-06-2007, 08:34

I've forced (manual) network detection to three network. Configure your network connection to three.co.uk for Internet. In WM5 registry you can enable HSDPA protocol (for T-mobile it is turned off, by default).

Quote:

Originally Posted by metro69

how did you get it working with x-series?

25-05-2007, 08:45	#1
Hooloovoo Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,546	Debranding a T-Mobile Vario II Well I took the plunge last night and signed up to T-Mobile and picked up my new Vario II. Could someone link me to a tutorial for removing all the T-Mobile customisations that it installed when I first turned the thing on? Is there a list somewhere of exactly what all the customisations are? I think I'd really just prefer a standard HTC TyTN - I've never been a fan of operator customisations.

25-05-2007, 09:40	#2
iDan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,812	T-Mobile don't generally overbrand their phones, my N95 for example only has a WNW logo on the main menu, nothing else. Not even a theme, ringtone, startup screen.... NOTHING!

25-05-2007, 09:42	#3
Hooloovoo Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,546	Oh right - maybe my Vario II does look like a normal HTC TyTN then and I'm just assuming it doesn't. It seems to have the horrible pink and white T-Mobile colour scheme but maybe that's just a theme that I can change easily. It's got a T-Mobile startup screen and a ring tone but I'm not too bothered about that. I only had a quick play with it last night - I daren't bring it to work with me today otherwise I'd have spent all day playing with it and not got any work done. It'll have to wait until tonight...........

25-05-2007, 09:46	#4
iDan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,812	Quote: Originally Posted by Hooloovoo I only had a quick play with it last night - I daren't bring it to work with me today otherwise I'd have spent all day playing with it and not got any work done. It'll have to wait until tonight........... You mean you actually do something at work?! Wow...

25-05-2007, 09:50	#5
Hooloovoo Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,546	Quote: Originally Posted by Telly_Man You mean you actually do something at work?! Wow... No I'm spending hours reading forums about the TyTN rather than spending hours playing with it. I should have just bought it in with me I've got a few quid left on my Orange PAYG phone to use up yet though before I can port the number across. I was rather surprised when I called up Orange to ask for my PAC code just now that they didn't even ask me where I was going never mind offer me any incentive to stay.

25-05-2007, 10:00	#6
iDan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,812	That's Orange for you!

25-05-2007, 10:13	#7
Hooloovoo Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,546	Quote: Originally Posted by Telly_Man That's Orange for you! But on the plus side they did answer my call within seconds of me selecting the "talk to an adviser" option once I'd worked my way through the hundred menu choices. I've yet to experience the joys of calling T-Mobile customer support and based on what I've read I'm not expecting much...........

25-05-2007, 10:24	#8
iDan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,812	I've used Vodafone's customer service mainly in the past and they've always been absolutely fantastic. I've spoken to T-Mobile's twice and they were alright. I asked a couple of simple questions and they were answered but not confidently. Still, anything's better than 3!

25-05-2007, 14:56	#9
andycat Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 51	start>settings>today change theme from T-Mobile to another. I've a Tytn and actually changed TO a T-mobile rom!

25-05-2007, 15:02	#10
suniil Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London Posts: 2,539	try xda developers forum. i've de-branded, unlocked & enabled HSDPA on my Vario II a while ago (now using with 3 SIM & X-series)

25-05-2007, 22:03	#11
snuffle_-_uk Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 551	Quote: Originally Posted by Telly_Man Still, anything's better than 3! funniest hour of my life was listening to a workmate of mine trying to cancel his 3 contract during his lunchbreak

25-05-2007, 22:21	#12
iDan Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,812	Quote: Originally Posted by snuffle_-_uk funniest hour of my life was listening to a workmate of mine trying to cancel his 3 contract during his lunchbreak Haha. I can imagine! I've only ever heard bad things about 3.

26-05-2007, 16:12	#13
metro69 Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4	Quote: Originally Posted by suniil try xda developers forum. i've de-branded, unlocked & enabled HSDPA on my Vario II a while ago (now using with 3 SIM & X-series) how did you get it working with x-series?

01-06-2007, 19:57	#14
Hooloovoo Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,546	Quote: Originally Posted by suniil try xda developers forum. i've de-branded, unlocked & enabled HSDPA on my Vario II a while ago (now using with 3 SIM & X-series) Thanks, I've been looking around XDA-developers for the last few days. I've managed to find the default green HTC theme so I've put that on, and I've also found the green keypad phone dialler thingy so that's green now as well. Much nicer than the pink and white T-Mobile colours. I turned off the T-Mobile quick-links on the today screen, and changed the web'n'walk hardware button to point directly to pocketIE. That's got rid of the annoying "you are about to go online" message. So I think I'm pretty much de-branded now. Though it would be nice to work out how to stop it doing ANY of the customisations that occur on first boot-up and after a hard-reset. Why did you switch to a T-Mobile ROM? What was the advantage?

01-06-2007, 21:34	#15
john newhouse Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 345	completely off topic, but how are you finding the vario II? i have just subscribed to another 18mth orange contract with the m700. but i have just heard that the 'anytime' £8 gprs new orange tariff, is only for 30mb a month. sod that, so i am cancelling that and strongly leaning towards the vario II on tmobile

01-06-2007, 22:13	#16
Hooloovoo Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,546	Pretty happy with it at the moment. It's my first proper pocketPC device so I don't have much to compare it to. I do I have a few niggles with it, but they're mainly to do with WM5 rather than the device itself. For example - setting an all day event in the calendar doesn't show up as an upcoming event in the today screen. Only appointments with specific times show up. It seems pretty speedy and responsive. The screen is much brighter and clearer compared to my old SE P800. I've got it on Flext 20 because that worked out the cheapest over 18 months it just cost more for the phone up front. I don't have the web'n'walk option because I have wifi access pretty much everywhere I need - home, work, girlfriends house etc. The way I see it is data access is limited to £1 per day so I can use GPRS/3G for up to seven days a month before web'n'walk would become more cost effective. That's probably enough for me. Plus the "fair use" policy is around 40MB per day I think so that's more than enough. I agree the new Orange data tarrif is a joke!

01-06-2007, 22:30	#17
john newhouse Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 345	that all sounds good to me, i wont be needing anything close to 40mb a day, but, psychologically, a 30mb monthly limit would not give me any confidence at all. i think i will get the vario tomorrow when i launch my m700 back into the carphonewarehouse store tomorrow

04-06-2007, 08:34	#18
suniil Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London Posts: 2,539	I've forced (manual) network detection to three network. Configure your network connection to three.co.uk for Internet. In WM5 registry you can enable HSDPA protocol (for T-mobile it is turned off, by default). Quote: Originally Posted by metro69 how did you get it working with x-series?

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Debranding a T-Mobile Vario II