Branded vs. Unbranded

[swift2fly]

I recently bought my HTC Desire HD here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Phones are not really branded to a certain carrier and they come from a lot of different sources. My phone has no branding internally and externally, when my phone boots up it says "HTC quitely brilliant" or quietly brilliant(i forget)..if it's quietly brilliant, it sure is not quiet because the default sound is loud on start up lol. Anyways, should i assume my phone is unbranded and unlocked? unbranded means unlocked?

Also, for the language options there are a lot of English versions but there is no US listed(I'm an american, this is why i ask), not that it matters but it's annoying to see "English(Italy)" under "Select Language" in "Language and Keyboard"and this is just selecting "English" Do they speak english in Italy (excuse my ignorance)? then under "Touch Input Settings" there is an option for Chinese Text input and nothing else. is that default because the region i am in? If so, that's so stereotypical, Chinese is not the language spoken in cambodia. So this is why i am asking because these concerns are having me 2nd guess my phone being unbranded or it's biased to a certain region...such as Italy and China :shrugs:

so the main purpose of the title "Branded vs. Unbranded" is aimed towards Rooting. I've been doing a lot of research on Rooting my phone and i still haven't done it because of the potential and permanent damage it can cause, in cambodia there are no phone plans or deals, so we pay full price up front, on top of that phone stores don't really offer warranty. Although the store I bought it from provides a 1 year program but Rooting voids warranties and i'm not sure if they would be able to tell or not. my question is, is there a higher risk of damaging a phone that's branded vs. one that is not branded, when trying to root?

 

[El Presidente]

I recently bought my HTC Desire HD here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Phones are not really branded to a certain carrier and they come from a lot of different sources. My phone has no branding internally and externally, when my phone boots up it says "HTC quitely brilliant" or quietly brilliant(i forget)..if it's quietly brilliant, it sure is not quiet because the default sound is loud on start up lol. Anyways, should i assume my phone is unbranded and unlocked? unbranded means unlocked?

Generally speaking, yes, if it's unbranded, it will be network unlocked. And lol, yes considering the volume of that chime, the "Quietly Brilliant" does seem a bit pointless....

What is the software version of your phone? You can check via -

Settings -> About Phone -> Software Information

Also, for the language options there are a lot of English versions but there is no US listed(I'm an american, this is why i ask), not that it matters but it's annoying to see "English(Italy)" under "Select Language" in "Language and Keyboard"and this is just selecting "English" Do they speak english in Italy (excuse my ignorance)? then under "Touch Input Settings" there is an option for Chinese Text input and nothing else. is that default because the region i am in? If so, that's so stereotypical, Chinese is not the language spoken in cambodia. So this is why i am asking because these concerns are having me 2nd guess my phone being unbranded or it's biased to a certain region...such as Italy and China :shrugs:

You can install other language packs from the market, search for ime, language pack or keyboard via here. There are also a fair few on the phone itself.

Settings -> Language & Keyboard -> Touch Input -> International Keyboard

That menu should allow you to select which keyboards you want to see when using the keyboard. If you have multiple selected, pressing the microphone when the keyboard is visible should bring up the list of options you've ticked.

so the main purpose of the title "Branded vs. Unbranded" is aimed towards Rooting. I've been doing a lot of research on Rooting my phone and i still haven't done it because of the potential and permanent damage it can cause, in cambodia there are no phone plans or deals, so we pay full price up front, on top of that phone stores don't really offer warranty. Although the store I bought it from provides a 1 year program but Rooting voids warranties and i'm not sure if they would be able to tell or not. my question is, is there a higher risk of damaging a phone that's branded vs. one that is not branded, when trying to root?

If you have a branded handset, you need to create what's called a goldcard to debrand and downgrade (if you're running with an Android version 2.2.1 or 2.3.3). If you're unbranded all you need to do is downgrade to 2.2 and then follow the steps from there. Rooting is not easily possible on 2.2.1 or 2.3.3 so you have to downgrade to root, switch something called S-OFF, then take it from there.

So in answer to your question, yes there is technically a higher chance of something going wrong if you're rooting and you're branded as you're adding an extra step (therefore a greater margin for error), but it's still a relatively easy process. I'm hoping to downgrade and root later today or tomorrow.

 

[swift2fly]

Generally speaking, yes, if it's unbranded, it will be network unlocked. And lol, yes considering the volume of that chime, the "Quietly Brilliant" does seem a bit pointless....

What is the software version of your phone? You can check via -

Settings -> About Phone -> Software Information



You can install other language packs from the market, search for ime, language pack or keyboard via here. There are also a fair few on the phone itself.

Settings -> Language & Keyboard -> Touch Input -> International Keyboard

That menu should allow you to select which keyboards you want to see when using the keyboard. If you have multiple selected, pressing the microphone when the keyboard is visible should bring up the list of options you've ticked.



If you have a branded handset, you need to create what's called a goldcard to debrand and downgrade (if you're running with an Android version 2.2.1 or 2.3.3). If you're unbranded all you need to do is downgrade to 2.2 and then follow the steps from there. Rooting is not easily possible on 2.2.1 or 2.3.3 so you have to downgrade to root, switch something called S-OFF, then take it from there.

So in answer to your question, yes there is technically a higher chance of something going wrong if you're rooting and you're branded as you're adding an extra step (therefore a greater margin for error), but it's still a relatively easy process. I'm hoping to downgrade and root later today or tomorrow.

Thanks for the reply. here is my software info:

Android version: 2.3.3
HTC sense 2.1
Software number: 2.36.405.8

when i got the phone i quickly upgraded to 2.3.3 OTA and then doing research i read that it's easier to root from 2.2. I'm such a newb.

Thanks again.

 

[El Presidente]

You're def unbranded if you got the update and that is your software number.

Have you another networks SIM to put in to see if you are network unlocked.

 

[swift2fly]

You're def unbranded if you got the update and that is your software number.

Have you another networks SIM to put in to see if you are network unlocked.

cool. yea sounds ike i am. when i first got the phone I use 2 different sims from 2 different phone companies. i love having an unbranded phone. i'm tired of seeing a phone company's logo on the phone and on boot up.

 

[Deleted User]

Have you tried looking under American ;-), I know how you feel its very annoying that the Chrome browser does not allow English UK (the home of the language) for editing or spelling purposes.