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question about a branded phone

i got a question, i just got interested in buying a phone, and lots of people tell me its of a certain brand name, Vodafone for example. I was wondering, what are my limitations with a branded phone? I want to use the phone in a diferent country, and with a diferent company, is there a way to unlock it, and have all its features availible as if it was unbranded??

Your post is very vague. Basically the phone has a little bit to do with how you can use it and ROM or Operating systems has a lot to do with it. For example, I have an AT&T phone which is a HTC Raphael. The brand on it means it originally is only able to work on the AT&T network. It has features only to be used with AT&T and when it is put on the AT&T network it reports to their servers. The fact that it is AT&T also means the hardware is GSM based (the type of radio in it and how it joins the network space). You can flash a customize from onto this phone to allow for use on any GSM carrier or you can unlock the phone to be only used on any network but you would not be able to use some of the AT&T specific features.
I hope this answered your basic questions.

pegun said:
Your post is very vague. Basically the phone has a little bit to do with how you can use it and ROM or Operating systems has a lot to do with it. For example, I have an AT&T phone which is a HTC Raphael. The brand on it means it originally is only able to work on the AT&T network. It has features only to be used with AT&T and when it is put on the AT&T network it reports to their servers. The fact that it is AT&T also means the hardware is GSM based (the type of radio in it and how it joins the network space). You can flash a customize from onto this phone to allow for use on any GSM carrier or you can unlock the phone to be only used on any network but you would not be able to use some of the AT&T specific features.
I hope this answered your basic questions.
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that is exactly what i wanted to know.. where i am from, i use a prepaid sim, of a foreign company, and everytime i travel, i have a diferent companie's prepaid sim in my phone, i dont want to be bound to only 1 company, i want to be able to use the phone's features, and not be obligated to only use AT&T's sim cards for example. So flashing a Rom, of unlocking, maked the phone become just like the rest of the factory unlocked, if i understood correctly?

A branded or carrier phone by default is typically only locked to the carrier's SIM, and typically has carrier specific software on it, like a media store, or internet portal, ect. If you unlock the phone, and flash an unbranded ROM (i.e. an XDA ROM, or an original HTC ROM) then there is no real difference between a branded phone and an unbranded phone besides carrier added labeling on the faceplate.

sonus said:
A branded or carrier phone by default is typically only locked to the carrier's SIM, and typically has carrier specific software on it, like a media store, or internet portal, ect. If you unlock the phone, and flash an unbranded ROM (i.e. an XDA ROM, or an original HTC ROM) then there is no real difference between a branded phone and an unbranded phone besides carrier added labeling on the faceplate.
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THank mate, i got it now.. i didnt understand those things since i never had to deal with branded or company slavery

[Q] What is debranding/unbrand and how useful is it?

I know it is stupid to ask this question but i really don't know what is debranding/ unbrand the phone, and what is the point of doing that?

Debranding your product means that you remove any software that your operator has preinstalled on the device. It can be several things, a boot logo screen, some applications of the operators choice.
You debrand by flashing a generic firmware. If you search the forum you'll find how to.
The pros by debranding your device is that you get rid of your operators preinstalled stuff + that you might get new firmware updates before the branded ones gets it.

pemell said:
Debranding your product means that you remove any software that your operator has preinstalled on the device. It can be several things, a boot logo screen, some applications of the operators choice.
You debrand by flashing a generic firmware. If you search the forum you'll find how to.
The pros by debranding your device is that you get rid of your operators preinstalled stuff + that you might get new firmware updates before the branded ones gets it.
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Gotcha...
SO is it necessary to debrand my thing when it is Unlocked Phone? Mine is from UK, unlocked and i don't see anything related to a specific carrier.

It's usually not even *required* to de-brand when the phone is carrier-branded, since MS limits the amount of damage carriers are allowed to do to the UX (no non-removable apps or custom UIs, for example). It is occasionally useful, though.
In your case, there's probably no reason at all. Odds are that your phone is already unbranded.

Strike_Eagle said:
Gotcha...
SO is it necessary to debrand my thing when it is Unlocked Phone? Mine is from UK, unlocked and i don't see anything related to a specific carrier.
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If you have a device that gives a NOKIA splash screen and then goes straight to the Windows Phone screen, then it's already unbranded and does not 'need' debranding.
It's great that MSFT has set such firm rules to carriers and what they're allowed to do. I've seen what VZW has done to phones and it's made me want to cry. AT&T would also change feature phone UI's and features would be moved around and hidden to make room for the crap they wanted to force on us.

DOUBT!

Yesterday my brother bought an HTC 7 SURROUND phone......
as i booted it showed some DFT(dark forces team) which i suppose is to be some WP7 sutom rom's logo screen....
I doubt whether its an official htc rom.......
Maybe some cud plz help on my doubt........
Its sim unlocked i mean the operator is at&t but i can use other sims....coz its unlcoked. So is that maybe for unlcoking the sellers flash some unlocked rom? or sim unlcoking can be done without flashing unlocked rom?....
so in simple words i wanted to know whether the fone is used or not? since it has a DFT rom
And is it needed to flash a custom rom in order to sim unlock the fone so that other operator sim cards can be used or sim unlocking doesnt need any custom rom flshing.
wanted to confirm. plz help!...

No..
I believe that SIM Unlock and ROM Unlock are different.
You've got a both full unlocked, and SIM unlocked phone. I guess that means its 2nd use phone.
Sorry, bro.

It's hard to parse out what you mean in your message, so I'll tell you what I think.
Custom ROM's do not perform SIM-Unlock. You need a code for that.
If your device booted up with DFT, then it has definitely received some form of rooting/custom treatment. Were the device untouched, it would give a splash screen of HTC or the carrier that it was sold through.

@anseio is correct.
First of all, you definitely have a second-hand phone. It sounds like your phone has a DFT (custom) ROM installed on it, which means somebody had to first modify the bootloader (install HSPL) and then re-flash the ROM. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and you can re-flash a stock ROM to it easily if you want to, but if you expect the phone to be new... it's not.
Also, I'm not sure why you'd expect the phone to come with WP7.0. These days, all new Windows phones should come with WP7.5 (Mango) or later; Mango came out over six months ago. If you realllly want an older version of the OS for soem reason, though, you can find an old stock ROM and flash that.
As for the SIM unlock, that's completely independent of the custom ROM or unlocked bootloader. It could even be the way the phone was originally; is it carrier branded (i.e. does it say "AT&T" or perhaps some Indian mobile operator's name/logo on it somewhere, for example)? Some phones are sold already SIM-unlocked. SIM unlock isn't going to hurt anything, in fact, outside the US I would never put up with a SIM-locked phone and even inside the US I would never buy a phone that I couldn't SIM-unlock (because I like to travel).

thnx for ur reply guys.

GoodDayToDie said:
@anseio is correct.
First of all, you definitely have a second-hand phone. It sounds like your phone has a DFT (custom) ROM installed on it, which means somebody had to first modify the bootloader (install HSPL) and then re-flash the ROM. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and you can re-flash a stock ROM to it easily if you want to, but if you expect the phone to be new... it's not.
Also, I'm not sure why you'd expect the phone to come with WP7.0. These days, all new Windows phones should come with WP7.5 (Mango) or later; Mango came out over six months ago. If you realllly want an older version of the OS for soem reason, though, you can find an old stock ROM and flash that.
As for the SIM unlock, that's completely independent of the custom ROM or unlocked bootloader. It could even be the way the phone was originally; is it carrier branded (i.e. does it say "AT&T" or perhaps some Indian mobile operator's name/logo on it somewhere, for example)? Some phones are sold already SIM-unlocked. SIM unlock isn't going to hurt anything, in fact, outside the US I would never put up with a SIM-locked phone and even inside the US I would never buy a phone that I couldn't SIM-unlock (because I like to travel).
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ya its carrier branded at&t.....

the fone was ordered from ebay....so shud i ask for a replacement.? and even the charger has lots of scratches on it veen thought it came in with nice htc quality sealed plastic case.

Ebay has put nama on yor forehead
Govinda gooovindaaa
Sent from my GT-S5830 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Contract phones vs non-contract phones

I have a noob question regarding this issue. It's very common today for providers (networks) to offer upgrade phones to subscribed members. That has the benefit for people to grab latest devices at lower prices, compared to buying the phone 'undranded', directly from the manufacturer. Under certain circumstances, those contract bound, 'locked' phones could be 'unlocked' for use anywhere.
As far as I understood, 'locked' or 'unlocked' is facilitated by the use of IMEI, right? Or is there any additional mechanism providers use to allow/restrict use of a particular device in their network? Are there any hardware differences whatsoever between a contract phone and a non-contract phone?

jstoner said:
I have a noob question regarding this issue. Its very common today for providers (networks) to offer upgrade phones to subscribed members. That has the benefit for people to grab latest devices at lower prices, compared to buying the phone undranded, directly from the manufacturer. Under certain circumstances, those contract bound, locked phones could be unlocked for use anywhere.
As far as I understood, locked or unlocked is facilitated by the use of IMEI, right? Or is there any additional mechanism providers use to allow/restrict use of a particular device in their network? Are there any hardware differences whatsoever between a contract phone and a non-contract phone?
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AFAIK the Simlock is in the Software of the Device.
Unlocking them is possible AFAIK.
But some Providers lock the bootloader of the Device permanent, so that it cant be unlocked.

As far I picture it in my mind, the software of the device (branded or not) doesn't have to do with the 'lock'. At least not according to this thread. That guy tried flashing with the different ROM, but the lock was still there. So there must be something else that does it. Possibly IMEI (or maybe something else?)
adi2500 said:
AFAIK the Simlock is in the Software of the Device.
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jstoner said:
As far I picture it in my mind, the software of the device (branded or not) doesnt have to do with the lock. At least not according to this thread. That guy tried flashing with the different ROM, but the lock was still there. So there must be something else that does it. Possibly IMEI (or maybe something else?)
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I didnt mean ROM with Software, i meant the Ril software

Oh, right, cheers for that. Haven't even head of RIL before
So you mean that contract phones come out with a modified RIL (compared to that of the unbranded version of the phone)?
So that's the part that get's locked. OK, thanks!
adi2500 said:
I didnt mean ROM with Software, i meant the Ril software
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What I also trying to figure the 'path' that units go through, till they reach the end customer.
For a unbranded phone, that would look like this:
1) Manufactured, put in retail box, sealed
2) Distribution to wholesale
3) Distribution to retailers
4) Customer picks it up (prepaid, pay-as-you-go)
This is phone is 'naturally' sim-free and unlocked to use with any network, worldwide.
Now, how about a contract phone?
1) A network provider, requests 1000 units of a paricular phone model from the manufacturer for use as a contract device
2) Manufactured with whatever options the provider requested. E.g. different firmware, modified RIL (network lock), branding (sticker at the back cover), put in box, sealed
3) Distributed to providers telecom shops
4) Customer picks it up as part of a contract
(Did I got all of this right?)
I am more interested in (2) above. Because I am curious - some of those initially-designated contract phones, somehow become unlocked and offered as unbranded, pay-as-you-go devices. But how all of a sudden do they become unlocked. I have also read somewhere, that even those phones are unlocked, they might be lacking certain features compared to the 'truly' unbranded phones that come directly from the manufacturer. Like for instance been limited to certain bands or traffic classes - which results to a lower QoS under certain conditions (roaming). That's why I m asking if there are any other differences in (2). Hope I clarified things up and not made things more blurry!

Does anyone know what happens if a unit that is destined as an upgrade phone (e.g. EE) gets unlocked to be sim free (therefore breaking the rules of the contract that state that this phone needs to be used for at least a period of 6 months prior unlocking becomes an option)? Is the provider taking any action? Like locking the phone again or any other potential consequences?
Otherwise, any phone is sim-free for like 10-20 quid...?

Can I root my Samsung S7 and gert rid of "all things ATT"..?

So, I'll apologize if this has already been dealt with previously, but I just need to verify what I've been told by a friend who knows Android systems (and Samsung S7 phones) a LOT more than I will ever attempt to understand..
About a year ago, I bought a Samsung Galaxy S7 from a 'rebuilder' (my term) who mentioned at the time "... it was ATT phone..", and, yes, when I turn it on it does the ATT circle jerk logo and has an ATT logo on the back of the phone. This was of no real concern to me, because my service purveyor uses the ATT system (Consumer Cellular), so it's worked well enough. But unfortunately, it also has a boatload of 'semi-proprietary' ATT trash in the phone which I'd like to get rid of. To confuse the matter even more, it appears that I cannot 'unlock' the phone because it has not been associated with an actual active ATT account for close to two years, and it APPEARS that now they refuse to accommodate an unlock code for this phone.
So... according to my friend (Mr. Android Phone), I can 'root' this phone to 'factory original firmware' and make it (in essence) just a plain-old-vanilla Samsung S7 without this rather bogus ATT firmware and the myriad of craplets I'd like to get rid of..
So, I'm here looking for "expertise" in such things because I certainly don't want to 'brick' this pretty nice phone, but I also want to get this to a point where there is no association with ATT in any manner. So my question sorta comes down to: "can I root this and be rid of all things ATT?", and "will this allow me to achieve an 'unlock' without having to play ATT's games? (I had QUITE the discussion with an ATT 'support' dude a couple of hours ago when he flatly refused to give me an unlock code so I could simply ATTEMPT to see if Consumer Cellular's T-Mobile service might work better at my home, since CC tells me I'm right in the center of a brand new rebuilt 4G service area).
Does any of this make any sense to anyone? Pardon my ignorance, but if the IMEI # is somehow 'tethered' to ATT and they won't "release" it, how does rooting help with this? - or is this something more like an 'association' of the IMEI # AND the ATT firmware...? GAH!! I'd just like to be totally rid of all this ATT junk and have the freedom to choose whichever service I want.

CentennialMan said:
So, I'll apologize if this has already been dealt with previously, but I just need to verify what I've been told by a friend who knows Android systems (and Samsung S7 phones) a LOT more than I will ever attempt to understand..
I'd just like to be totally rid of all this ATT junk and have the freedom to choose whichever service I want.
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Hi There that's a lot of words partner! I'll try make the answer easy to understand and I've cut out much of the post so my reply isn't huge.
1. Yes you can install vanilla firmware which will remove all branding from AT&T and you don't need to root the phone to do this. here is the firmware for your device >>here<< You can also use XAS or XAA. You will see the guide and the Odin you need to flash this firmware.
2. This is another version of Odin on this website if you have any issues with the one on Sammobile. >>here<<
3. Unfortunately you cannot unlock the phone unless the original cell phone provider gives you their half of the unlock key as a code to input to the phone. In the UK once a phone is out of the initial contract period it is illegal for the provider to refuse to give you this code whether your still with them or not. I know in the USA you guys gets ****ed over. The original account holder of the phone can ask for the unlock code but not you.
4. Changing the firmware and unlocking the phone to any network are two different things, flashing unbranded firmware will not unlock the phone the network is tied to. They don't make it that easy!
5. As far as i know T Mobile (USA) has also moved to G930U firmware so you could be lucky with a T Mobile SIM working once the phone is flashed with this firmware but don't hold your breath. Check Sammobile for the T Mobile firmware too.
6. IMEI number is tied to the phone so in theory it can be changed after the phone is rooted and you are able to modify the EFS partition but it is extremely difficult even for veterans like me and it causes lots of problems with cell network registration. Leave well alone if you don't want a completely useless device.
Things to make flashing go easier
1. Turn off FRP lock or sign out of the Google account on the phone or delete it before you do anything, you can put that account back on the phone after flashing.
2. If you enable Developer options make sure " usb debugging" is enabled and OEM unlock, not essential but can help when things go wrong.
3. Anything you want to keep, pics media etc back up or move to SD card, the SD card won't be touched when flashing firmware.
4. Please follow the guides on how to flash correctly.
Any other questions please ask.

It should be noted that if it's an ATT phone it's Snapdragon therefore permanently bootloader locked, OEM Unlock won't actually do anything, that setting only works on Exynos.
The only root method for Snapdragon is to use a leaked engineering bootloader to gain system access, and you can only install the leaked bootloader if your phone is already running old firmware. For up to date phones there is no root method.

Beanvee7 said:
It should be noted that if it's an ATT phone it's Snapdragon therefore permanently bootloader locked, OEM Unlock won't actually do anything, that setting only works on Exynos.
The only root method for Snapdragon is to use a leaked engineering bootloader to gain system access, and you can only install the leaked bootloader if your phone is already running old firmware. For up to date phones there is no root method.
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Hello mate i'm not sure if your aware but AT&T were initially Qual comm but they've also been using Exynos for a while.

cooltt said:
Hello mate i'm not sure if your aware but AT&T were initially Qual comm but they've also been using Exynos for a while.
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Source?

Beanvee7 said:
Source?
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Don't be smart you know how to use Google?

I did google it, I wouldn't have asked for a source if I found something. But it doesn't matter, you're the one making unsubstantiated claims, the burden is on you to prove it. But since you asked for it:
AT&T's website says Snapdragon
https://i.imgur.com/TdV62Mq.jpg
https://www.att.com/buy/phones/samsung-galaxy-s7-32gb-black-onyx.html
GSM Arena says Snapdragon
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7_(usa)-7960.php
Wikipedia says Snapdragon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S7#Qualcomm_Snapdragon_820_Models
There isn't a single page when googling AT&T S7 Exynos that backs your claim up. The USA also uses completely different network technology than internationally, using the S7 Exynos in the USA is already known to cause issues with LTE, VoWiFi etc. They'd have to do a hardware refresh of the Exynos SoC if they wanted to support it in the USA, which they ain't going to do a for a 3 gen old phone.

Beanvee7 said:
I did google it, I wouldn't have asked for a source if I found something. But it doesn't matter, you're the one making unsubstantiated claims, the burden is on you to prove it. But since you asked for it:
AT&T's website says Snapdragon
https://i.imgur.com/TdV62Mq.jpg
https://www.att.com/buy/phones/samsung-galaxy-s7-32gb-black-onyx.html
GSM Arena says Snapdragon
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7_(usa)-7960.php
Wikipedia says Snapdragon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S7#Qualcomm_Snapdragon_820_Models
There isn't a single page when googling AT&T S7 Exynos that backs your claim up. The USA also uses completely different network technology than internationally, using the S7 Exynos in the USA is already known to cause issues with LTE, VoWiFi etc. They'd have to do a hardware refresh of the Exynos SoC if they wanted to support it in the USA, which they ain't going to do a for a 3 gen old phone.
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lol ok.