The branding is hardwired into the ROM, at the factory, and only RIM could do this. No updating of the OS or anything else will change it. Even if you got into this programing, you would brick the device forever. There are others who claim they can but I have never seen it done
The branding is hardwired into the ROM, at the factory, and only RIM could do this. No updating of the OS or anything else will change it. Even if you got into this programing, you would brick the device forever.
? You can unbrand your phone. It requires software that is not supposed to be in the hands of consumers, as it is proprietary to RIM. Do some google searching, you'll find a certain forum that has several people devoted to figuring it all out.
The branding of the phone is held in a file called a VSM. You can see part of the VSM info by holding ALT+SHIFT+H, which displays the Help Me! screen. The Vendor ID is the carrier that is associated with the VSM file on your phone. The VSM file contains startup pictures and other phone settings (like 2G, 3G, and 2G+3G network selection).
Hmmm sounds too risky to fiddle with being that I am mortal and know very little of computer/software programming etc...I will just buy an unbranded handset next time. Thanks for the replies! So quick!
RIM does sell devices, but there are at full price... since i have never got a handset from them i dont know if the splash screen says a carriers name or is it says BlackBerry...
How about scratching off the exterior logos? Funny how the rest of the phone will show signs of wear over time but that logo branding stays on there like the day you got it...
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RIM does sell devices, but there are at full price... since i have never got a handset from them i dont know if the splash screen says a carriers name or is it says BlackBerry...
I have an unbranded Blackberry and it shows a Blackberry/RIM splash screen on boot.
Last edited by greggebhardt; 11-19-09 at 08:40 AM.
? You can unbrand your phone. It requires software that is not supposed to be in the hands of consumers, as it is proprietary to RIM. Do some google searching, you'll find a certain forum that has several people devoted to figuring it all out.
The branding of the phone is held in a file called a VSM. You can see part of the VSM info by holding ALT+SHIFT+H, which displays the Help Me! screen. The Vendor ID is the carrier that is associated with the VSM file on your phone. The VSM file contains startup pictures and other phone settings (like 2G, 3G, and 2G+3G network selection).
Since you seem to know the way, can the same VSM from the 9000 be used for the 9700? I didnt know if they were phone specific (different sets for different models) or Vendor ID specific (all phones on that carrier use that VSM file)
You can get the rim program MF loader and you can load a vsm file through the program. Usually a while after the phone comes out you can find these files on the net somewhere but since the phone just came out it might be a while before someone has a vsm file for it. I do believe its specific for the model phone. I couldn't find a vsm file for my 8900 until about 6 or so months after it was released. The mf loader program is powerful, you can do everything from unlocking the phone, to unbranding it, to using custom images at boot up/shutdown. But as other have said, you can seriously mess up your phone if you don't know what you're doing
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Since you seem to know the way, can the same VSM from the 9000 be used for the 9700? I didnt know if they were phone specific (different sets for different models) or Vendor ID specific (all phones on that carrier use that VSM file)
No it can't be used as the screen sizes on the two phones are different, therefore the images in the VSM would not be compatible. I will work on finding more unbranding info for the 9700. I just got mine and haven't had the desire to do it yet.
I'm very interested in getting the VSM files for the 9700. I could not care less about removing the Vendor splash screen ect... Only reason I want this done is because I Need to activate the UMA functions on my Rogers branded 9700...
Interesting thread. Just a heads up, because I've seen it become an issue elsewhere: when you're talking unbranding you're getting into stuff that RIM and the carriers take very seriously. While it can be done, the fact that doing so requires obtaining proprietary goodies not available to the public leads CB to frown on these threads. We want to share knowledge IMO, but not necessarily instruct people on how to get into shady activities. Just my opinion.
No it can't be used as the screen sizes on the two phones are different, therefore the images in the VSM would not be compatible. I will work on finding more unbranding info for the 9700. I just got mine and haven't had the desire to do it yet.
What if I don't care about the splash screen size being the 9000's versus the 9700. Would anything else be affected? I just want my 9700 Unbranded as AT&T blocks Blackberry Maps which I use regularly for geotagging and company vehicle locating.
