Xperia pro sim free unbranded

[melrow]

     I, alongside I suspect many others in the UK who own an unbranded sim-free Xperia Pro, have the SI number 1249-8527. I had assumed that it was only a matter of time before we received the ICS update, and I was happy to wait.

     However ( and please, I am happy to be corrected or have this explained to me as I am not very tech-savvie) if the post I read on this forum that O2 have said no to the update, does this mean that none of us UK Xperia owners will get it even if we are not using O2, because sim-free means you have to have permissions from all the possible providers rather than a specific one, which would be the case if you were locked in to a network provider?

     Thankyou in advance for any clarification you can shed on this.

[threespines]

Interesting theory, but don't expect any 'clarification' from Sony - this company is so amateur it doesn't even seem to know itself what it's doing with the update for 1249-8527, let alone condescend to communicate with its *paying customers* about it

[Petter]

Concerning the update of ICS for phone's branded to O2 they won't be receiving the ICS update. Phone's not branded to O2 won't be effected by this anyhow so you can feel safe in that case.

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[nanobis]

Well at least we know you'll releace an update for the SI 1249-8527. The Question is when, all this talk but yet no proof. This happened to me with my Motorola Milestone. I know there was a update to the post http://talk.sonymobile.com/message/199354#199354 3days ago and still nothing.

What is SO diffrent about this handset thats causing the delay.

[Jem]

Sorry if I'm being thick. I don't know what 'unbranded' means. I have a Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro, 1249-8527, from buymobilephones.net. It's a 24 month O2 contract. Phone is unlocked. So, do I wait in the hope that the ICS update will arrive? Or is it a DIY job? O2 insist that the hold up is with Sony and not their doing.

Thanks.

[threespines]

Jem, a 'branded' handset is one which has had its software modified by a network so that it has network-specific features and/or visual appearance. Orange UK for instance tinkers with most of its handsets in a (somewhat lame) attempt to give them a common look-and-feel. An unbranded handset is simply one whose software hasn't been modified in this way and has come straight from the factory to your hand.

So, if there is an software update for a particular phone from a manufacturer, having a branded handset does complicate matters, because the network has to integrate its bits and bobs into the updated software but only *after* the manufacturer has done its work. It means in general that branded handsets get updates much later than unbranded phones.

The good news for you is that you appear to have an unbranded phone. I have the same SI number as you, and mine is unbranded. Networks don't always brand every phone.

So as and when Sony does get this update sorted for 1249-8527 (and believe it or not, it *still* isn't available!!), you shouldn't have an additional delay caused by O2.

[Jem]

Thanks. I'll try and find a little more patience then. I was considering flashing the phone myself, but it seems complicated and I confess to being nervous about b*ggering up my phone!

Cheers.

EDIT: And just to make matters worse and make users think the worst of Sony in terms of providing information, the SI Number list has been taken down!

ANOTHER EDIT:

Oh boy, am I fed up with Sony. After a painful, endless series of e-mails all Sony Support can do is tell me that my phone is branded and that it's O2 that are holding things up!! I keep telling them that my phone is not branded or locked, and that it has nothing to do with O2!! I have even been into an O2 shop, spoke to their head 'guru' who checked my phone out and used another network SIM in it. He told me that this is catagorically Sony's problem - which we know. The Sony call centre is totally useless however and cannot, by their own admission (hope they recorded the call) give me an answer.

I am an ex-employee of Sony which 'heightens' the feeling of disappointment in their customer service and, apparently, terrible product management. I will under no circumstances buy another Sony phone.

And finally, I write this 'rant' in the safe knowledge that no-one from Sony is going to react to it, care about it or, G*d forbid, give me an answer!!

Message was edited by: Jem