Serious question here. I'm currently flashing my W580's firmware (MAIN+FS) as I write this, but that's mainly to get rid of the AT&T crap and get MP3 ringtones and more themes.

What else can I do with a debranded phone? Or do people do it just to be able to say they did?

Well yes you right Bona Fide people do it just to say they have done it there is really NO NEED TO you can just delete all operator crap using FAR and enable mp3 ringtones plus more by editing a custom.xml you dont actually gain anything by de-branding you just lose some images (replaced with new ones) and thats about it really!

sometimes they dont allow you to use flash firmware stuff.

What do you mean "they" and "flash firmware"?????????

Flashing allows you to unlock, debrand and customize your phone.

Customizing includes changing graphics that a normal theme won't change by itself, like battery images. Also you can apply patches to change other system things.

And how do u intend to do THAT without patches? Can u actually customize ur phone in a way to be able to change this? I am not being ironic, I am just asking. AFAIK, u can change battery images and other gfx by applying special patches...

For example:

Cingular Branded W810i: The activity menu is replaced with MEdiaNet Button

Unbranded: Activity Menu is present, not the MEdiaNet Button.

------Pros: You don't lose tons of money for not knowing you forgot to lock your phone and you've been on the internet for 60+ minutes.

------Cons: NONE!

You see, flashing, imo, saves money and increases the functionality of the phone.

You can use XS++, no patching needed.

Like i said you DONT NEED TO FLASH you can just delete all things from your operator using FAR
By deleting the activity_hook, right_desktop_hook and so on,,
Also you can enable allmost everything else by editing a custom.xml with all the stuff thats >false< turn to >true< ie, ringtones, flash menus, you can change internet, mms ,sms and loads more theirs no need to go re-flash with some generic firmware!!!

Exactly.

Of course you can just be lazy and use vkp patches. It's not that hard with GSlide.

i think setool2 is better for a w810!

When you debrand your phone, you can:

Take off that damned camera shutter sound
Use your own flash themes
Use your own ringtones
No more operator logo shut down/start up screens
Remove any operator-icons in the menu and replace them with original se ones
Unlocks many of the phone settings hidden by your operator.
You get the original sony ericsson games (sims 2 and lumines for the w580)
You can delete SOME of the preset ringtones

LIKE I KEEP TRYING TO SAY YOU CAN DO THIS USING FAR!!!

1,This can only be done by editing a custom.xml or deleting file with FAR (no need to flash/debrand firmware)
2,This also can bedone by editing a custom.xml (no need to flash/debrand firmware)
3,HUH??? Well ok some networks might prevent you using some music formats ie, AAC,MP3 but AGAIN this can be changed by editing a custom.xml (no need to flash/debrand firmware)
4,These can be changed by uploading new images to a certain path and also by editing a custom.xml (AGAIN no need to flash/debrand firmware)
5,(Well this is getting stupid now) Their is NO NEED whatsoever to debrand to do this just upload a new menu.ml and icons (yes that simple i no)
6,Hidden settings like what exactly??? (i would like to know seriously)
7,Well you could just find these else where (no need to flash/debrand firmware)
8,You can delete ALL if you want alls you gotta do is use FAR and delete them (YES THAT SIMPLE)


Sorry for such a long post abou things you can do WITHOUT DEBRANDING,
but i dont think anyones listen to me YOU DONT NEED DO FLASH FIRMWARES TO DEBRAND!!!

...Or you can just debrand your phone with XS++ (which is way easier to use than FAR)

BTW does FAR have support for CID 52 phones?

Well I am listening to you...and i would love it if you could send me some more info on how to use FAR withought debranding. I have viewed it, but being a noob at this...the text form is a bit intimidating. If you can help. I would really appreciate it!! ( I have a w580i)

Just debrand the dam phone lol... you get updated firmware, ability to choose networks, use MP3's, more memory than you'd get with AT&T FW (I had AT&T for my W810i... 15mb before debrand, 22 mb after), more stuff you can delete without being protected(even though you can delete protected files with XS++).

But basically it boils down to this: If you want to get the phone OEM fast, debrand. If you'd rather keep some AT&T specifics, then delete some stuff and it's like a custom debrand. But, some of the stuff involves editing files which can be tricky without using FAR + SEFP (even though XS++ has the directory map now, you can copy files off the phone... FAR + SEFP can)

@sentinel: You sound like me when I first started modding my phone... just debrand, and eventually you'll get the hang of utilizing resources out on the web and you won't need FAR. For example, if you wanted FAR to get a copy of a file specific to AT&T/Cingular, you can find lots of complete W810 FS copies. Then, it's just a matter of editing the file and uploading it to the phone.