> I know that changing the IMEI is not legal in the UK.
> So, is anything else not legal? What are the advantages of updating
> firmware, or de-branding?
> Which phones are easier to do this stuff on?
"bealoid" <signup@bealoid.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Xns9A3EEFE864AD6YAsfKJXSTO@194.117.143.53...
>I know that changing the IMEI is not legal in the UK.
>
> So, is anything else not legal? What are the advantages of updating
> firmware, or de-branding?
>
> Which phones are easier to do this stuff on?
The only reason it is illegal to change the IMEI in the UK is because that's
what is used to track people. Mobile companies collect and store data for
years - so they can tell which phone uses which numbers and who is using
stolen phones if reported. Changing a SIM doesn't hide a stolen phone and
numbers in and out of the phone are cross referenced. The same goes for
text messages.
Mobile companies provide data to companies such as Technocel who put it all
together in a report for use in legal proceedings. Data on location is also
stored and with more cells it can trace people to within a few feet. Its
very interesting to see the reports.
Mobile companies could do something about stolen phones but choose not to,
they could also stop insurance fraud - people using it as a cheaper way to
upgrade etc. Access to the data is not authorised for phone sales people or
repair departments by the way, so people on a help centre line will not know
about what is stored.
Changing software and debranding is not against any Law I can think of,
although it might be against the contractual agreement with a mobile
company. There is no way they would know unless you waved it in their face.
Debranding can take away annoying features you don't want, or change the
function of buttons or menus. Rather than being directed to premium
services you could use a chosen one. Updating firmware is an advantage to
keep up to date.
On Sat, 9 Feb 2008 11:57:16 -0000, "Ian" <ian@nospam.com> wrote:
>Data on location is also
>stored and with more cells it can trace people to within a few feet.
Not really. Using Google Mobile Maps with the GPS turned off on my
n95 gives me my location within 4 miles.
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"BGN" <nickmooney@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:336rq318b1a0pgaaa37ul8b8hmo79oniq4@4ax.com
: : On Sat, 9 Feb 2008 11:57:16 -0000, "Ian"
: : <ian@nospam.com> wrote:
: :
: : : Data on location is also
: : : stored and with more cells it can trace people to
: : : within a few feet.
: :
: : Not really. Using Google Mobile Maps with the GPS
: : turned off on my n95 gives me my location within 4
: : miles.
No, it gives the *phone's* location. Unless they have ways of knowing that
you were carrying it at the time you claimed to be in London when you were
actually in Aberdeen ;-)
> "bealoid" <signup@bealoid.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:Xns9A3EEFE864AD6YAsfKJXSTO@194.117.143.53...
>>I know that changing the IMEI is not legal in the UK.
>>
>> So, is anything else not legal? What are the advantages of updating
>> firmware, or de-branding?
....
<snipped>
> Changing software and debranding is not against any Law I can think of,
> although it might be against the contractual agreement with a mobile
> company. There is no way they would know unless you waved it in their
> face. Debranding can take away annoying features you don't want, or
> change the function of buttons or menus. Rather than being directed to
> premium services you could use a chosen one. Updating firmware is an
> advantage to keep up to date.
I've just received a 3 SIM (I'm thinking of getting an Option USB modem
and wanted to try it with a PAYG SIM before committing to a contract).
Reading the T&Cs I found this:
"Handsets which can be used to access 3 services are locked to our
network [so if I bought one SIM-free it wouldn't work?!]...During the
term of your Agreement for the supply of 3 services, you must not permit
your handset to be unlocked via any unauthorised manner (i.e. by anyone
other than us or the handset manufacturer). You must contact us if yoyu
want your handset to be unlocked from our network."
On Sat, 9 Feb 2008 13:31:53 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
<ivor@thisaddressis.invalid> wrote:
>: : : Data on location is also
>: : : stored and with more cells it can trace people to
>: : : within a few feet.
>: :
>: : Not really. Using Google Mobile Maps with the GPS
>: : turned off on my n95 gives me my location within 4
>: : miles.
>
>No, it gives the *phone's* location. Unless they have ways of knowing that
>you were carrying it at the time you claimed to be in London when you were
>actually in Aberdeen ;-)
The phone is generally about my person, so is going to give data about
where I am.
Also, there's a difference about knowing which cell I'm near in London
vs Aberdeen than knowing my location "to within a few feet."
--
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: nickmooney@spamcop.net
-- Triumph Tiger 955i -- http://www.bgn.me.uk -- Touch -
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"BGN" <nickmooney@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:0vcrq3tisbhsgo014di5lp86u2oj0jeqb3@4ax.com
: : On Sat, 9 Feb 2008 13:31:53 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
: : <ivor@thisaddressis.invalid> wrote:
: :
: : : : : : Data on location is also
: : : : : : stored and with more cells it can trace people
: : : : : : to within a few feet.
: : : : :
: : : : : Not really. Using Google Mobile Maps with the GPS
: : : : : turned off on my n95 gives me my location within 4
: : : : : miles.
: : :
: : : No, it gives the *phone's* location. Unless they have
: : : ways of knowing that you were carrying it at the time
: : : you claimed to be in London when you were actually in
: : : Aberdeen ;-)
: :
: : The phone is generally about my person, so is going to
: : give data about where I am.
Only if it is attached to your person in such a way that it can never be
removed..!
On Sat, 9 Feb 2008 18:00:03 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
<ivor@thisaddressis.invalid> wrote:
>
>
>"BGN" <nickmooney@spamcop.net> wrote in message
>news:0vcrq3tisbhsgo014di5lp86u2oj0jeqb3@4ax.com
>: : On Sat, 9 Feb 2008 13:31:53 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
>: : <ivor@thisaddressis.invalid> wrote:
>: :
>: : : : : : Data on location is also
>: : : : : : stored and with more cells it can trace people
>: : : : : : to within a few feet.
>: : : : :
>: : : : : Not really. Using Google Mobile Maps with the GPS
>: : : : : turned off on my n95 gives me my location within 4
>: : : : : miles.
>: : :
>: : : No, it gives the *phone's* location. Unless they have
>: : : ways of knowing that you were carrying it at the time
>: : : you claimed to be in London when you were actually in
>: : : Aberdeen ;-)
>: :
>: : The phone is generally about my person, so is going to
>: : give data about where I am.
>
>Only if it is attached to your person in such a way that it can never be
>removed..!
"BGN" <nickmooney@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:336rq318b1a0pgaaa37ul8b8hmo79oniq4@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 9 Feb 2008 11:57:16 -0000, "Ian" <ian@nospam.com> wrote:
>
>>Data on location is also
>>stored and with more cells it can trace people to within a few feet.
>
> Not really. Using Google Mobile Maps with the GPS turned off on my
> n95 gives me my location within 4 miles.
The "Spooks" can do *much* better than that by pinging your handset
directly using hand-held equipment.
--
Graham
On Sat, 9 Feb 2008 22:56:15 -0000, "Graham." <me@privacy.com> wrote:
>>>Data on location is also
>>>stored and with more cells it can trace people to within a few feet.
>>
>> Not really. Using Google Mobile Maps with the GPS turned off on my
>> n95 gives me my location within 4 miles.
>
>The "Spooks" can do *much* better than that by pinging your handset
>directly using hand-held equipment.
It would be cheaper to send a car to follow.
--
-- Nick ICQ: 9235201 EMAIL & MSN: nickmooney@spamcop.net
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-- LOTR#4 SKOGA#8 DS#7 BOTAFOT#159 BOTM#2 FBOTY#06 PM#11
Phone software modding - what's legal? 
Linear Mode
