Were you super-pumped when Cingular launched their Nokia E62? Yeah, it’s a bit more limited than it’s older brother the E61, but to some people (myself included) WiFi means nothing on a cellphone. And it’s cheap if you do a contract.
However, as many people discovered, there was one gleaming drawback to the Cingular E62: the java. Cingular’s firmware crippled the hell out of the java restrictions on the E62, making it so that any app that’s not Cingular-signed Java has to repeatedly request permission to access the internet. This basically cripples apps such as Opera MIni and Google Maps Mobile.
However, As posted on HoFo and Cingular’s User Forums, there’s a way around it. It’s free, legal, and easy as pie. Click on to read the full text. Basically you’re fooling Nokia’s Software Updater (like many have done to get a N73 Music Edition or N80 Internet Edition) into thinking you have a Rogers (Canadian GSM Operator) branded E62, and re-installing their firmware. Apparently Rogers puts a bit more freedom into the hands of their users than Cingular does. Shame on you, Cingular! Did you think we wouldn’t find out!?
*Update* The Unbranded firmware product code has been discovered, click on for the walkthrough and the code. I just did it on my E62 which I had previously flashed to Rogers firmware and it is now unbranded.
**Update** It would appear as though Nokia has updated NSU and removed the ability to re-apply a phone’s firmware.
***Update*** It appears as though, for both the Cingular branded E62 and N75, you must have the phone unlocked before you can follow the steps below. Simply call AT&T’s customer service, tell them you’re going to London for business and will be using a local SIM card. They should be able to provide you an unlock code within 24-48 hours.
*FINAL Update* – Both the E62 and the N75 (with AT&T’s ‘Tab Top’) can no longer be unbranded using this walkthrough. Unfortunately, you’ll need to get a different handset if you want an unbranded one. I’d recommend the E61 or the N76.
**Begin Direct Quote**
Hello,
I’m one of the guys who bought Nokia E62 the day after this phone was
released and available at Cingular stores. And I’m the one of those who
is suffering with the Java applet issue caused by the crippled Cingular
firmware. Sure most of you who have Cingular E62 already discovered
that issue, and those who didn’t, can read about it in the following
threads:
http://forums.cingular.com/cng/boar…essage.id=40201
http://forums.cingular.com/cng/boar…essage.id=39935
This issue was also discussed in many other forums. Some of us even
contacted Cingular asking for explanation/help, but nothing promising
came out of it.
More than 3 months passed since Nokia E62 owners discovered that issue
but Cingular did nothing. Frankly saying I do not believe that Cingular
is interested in the Java applets problem investigation and making its
customers happy. Most likely Nokia E62 is not a best Cingular seller,
so they are not going to invest in fixing that issue.
I spent about 3 months trying to fix that issue on my own, but any
attempts to create a “missing” certificate and apply to the
applications that “affected” by Cingular’s firmware were unsuccessful.
So, I did choose another way and yesterday I was able to fix this
issue. The solution was simple, but took me a long time to find the
necessary code. (Thanks to one of Canadian E62 owners who provided me
the data I needed!)
The fix is easy and it takes about 30 min. to implement. The main idea
is that instead using Cingular “crippled” firmware we can use the
firmware from another operator which is not “crippled” and allows Java
applets work normally. I did try several firmware versions and chose
the firmware from a Canadian operator called “Rogers”. Again… what
I’m writing here is not a theory. I DID try it and it works. I’m a
happy E62 user now. :-)
So, what do you need to get rid of Cingular’s firmware and to flash
your phone to a Rogers firmware? Not much to be honest. I got the
flashing idea from the URL bellow, so I’m not creating anything new,
except that I found, tested and verified Rogers firmware in our
Cingular’ Nokia E62.
All the credits are to the author who posted the following article:
http://www.gsmhosting.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=344689
Bellow you will find the steps you need:
1) Download and install Nokia Software Updater (NSU) from:
http://www.nokiausa.com/support/sof…update_via_pc_1
IMPORTANT NOTE: Nokia Software Updater is very sensitive to software
firewalls. During the many tests I have done, I found that I must
completely disable software firewall, as granting full network access
to (NSU_UI_CLIENT.EXE and NSL_HOST_PROCESS.EXE) was not enough to make
NSU work. So, the bottom line is if you do not want an additional
headache and want to receive quick results, then just temporarily
disable software firewall before you run NSU in step 6).
2) Download and install Nemesis Service Suite (NSS) software in order to change the phone’s product code from here:
http://www.b-phreaks.co.uk/files/NSS/NSS10387.zip
3) Now we are ready to change Cingular’s Product Code to Rogers Product
Code which will allow us to upload a Rogers’s firmware in step 6).
3.1 Connect your phone to USB and choose “PC Suite” mode (same as if you always do when sync your phone): Open NSS and click on “Scan for new device” button on the right-upper part of the window: Click on the icon «Phone info»; Click on “Scan” and wait until you get “…Done” in the status string at the bottom of NSS window;
3.5 Now, in a “Product Data Edit” window check “Enable” next to
“Product Code” string and type the next code: 0538175 (For Rogers branded firmware. Use 0524513 for Unbranded firmware.) Then press
“Write” button and wait until you get “…Done” in the status string at
the bottom of the NSS window;
3.6 Press “Scan” button again (same as you did in 3.4) just to be sure you still can get “…Done” at the bottom of NSS window;
3.7 Right click on a small icon (located above “Device Info” button) and choose “close device”;
3.8 Now you can completely close NSS. We do not need it anymore.
3.9 Disconnect USB cable.
4) Backup your phone information at that step. How and what backup
depends on your needs. Just understand at that point that we need to do
a hardware reset of the phone at next step, so it will erase all your
Phone Memory data.
5) At this step we will reset the phone to the factory configuration:
5.1 On your phone press several times Red button, so to be sure you are in an “Idle Screen”;
5.2 Press * #7370#
At that point you will be asked if you want “Restore all original phone
settings”. Answer Yes and confirm the code (which is 12345 by default.
Be careful and verify that you are typing a numbers, but not symbols).
When you provided the right code, your phone will be restarted and you
will be asked if to you want a read a tutorial. Answer NO.
6) Now we are ready to update phone to Rogers or Unbranded firmware.
6.1 Connect your phone to USB and choose “PC Suite” mode;
6.2 Connect your phone to a charger;
6.3 Run Nokia Software Updater (NSU);
6.4 Follow the prompts. At the point when NSU says that you already
have the latest firmware and if you want to download it again, confirm
it with checkmark and let NSU do its work;
6.5 After about 15 minutes, NSU will finish its work, reboot the phone
and tell you that your phone software is updated and you are ready to
go.
6.6 Close NSU window. Disconnect your phone from USB.
6.7 You must have Rogers or Unbranded firmware in your phone now.
7) This step is optional, but I would still recommend that after
updating your phone with NSU, you reset your phone to the factory
configuration one more time. For that, repeat step 5).
I hope everything I wrote was clear enough and you have a phone without
Java applet issue now. You can install the Java applets your like (the
first one I immediately tried was Google Maps for Mobile) and they must
run OK.
Shame on you Cingular! We are US customers, but because you do not want
to fix the problem in your firmware we are forced to use firmware from
Canadian operator. What a “nice” way to promote your service, Cingular!
