Expansys UK have received stock of the Sendo X!

[Elite]

Sorry, I had assumed the first no. shown on the System pane was the version number - there are so many numbers shown on this screen, its difficult working out what the significant ones are!

The details I am seeing are:

X 1.72.5.2
Release IG
17-Sep-2004
Pn:8G26-00000-00018
SPN: 0000-00000-00000
(c) Sendo 2004
IG:3.13
IG:Expansys UK 1.10
GSM SW Ver: 04.35
IMEI No: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Product Id: SNDX00

[swing]

Originally Posted by plinkykev

Expansys build is 50F

Between this comment and the "IG: Expansys UK 1.10" of the previous comment - does this mean this is unique in some way to Expansys??

What I mean is - is this the UK SIM Free build - ie when new firmwares become available the new versions will be available straight away, or like Telefonica in Spain will we have to wait for Expansys to "approve" the new firmware in some way??

[plinkykev]

Originally Posted by swing

Between this comment and the "IG: Expansys UK 1.10" of the previous comment - does this mean this is unique in some way to Expansys??

Each version is coded to the Operator / Distributor it is being made for, so from that point of view they are all unique. However, other than the name shown in the About screen, if they do not want any other changes (eg: colour schemes, WAP / MMS settings, etc), they could all be identical.

Originally Posted by swing

What I mean is - is this the UK SIM Free build - ie when new firmwares become available the new versions will be available straight away, or like Telefonica in Spain will we have to wait for Expansys to "approve" the new firmware in some way??

Yes, the Expansys version can be classed as "SIM Free", in that it is not locked to an operator.
As for firmware update, that still does depend on Expansys to approve it, like all of the companies do.

[Elite]

It makes sense that the same code base would have service provider/locale specific customisation (or none in the case of SIM free versions), therefore the 1st number shown on the System pane could indicate the version/label for the customisation supplied.

However, I cant see where the build no (of the main code base) of 50C or 50F etc is indicated. I suspect that plinkykev will be the only person who can answer that!

I am a software developer myself (of banking rather than phone software) - hence my interest in this (probably arcane) subject

[Cash]

Originally Posted by plinkykev

Sorry, but I would not get your hopes up too high i'm afraid...

The date is the date that version was compiled for the handset.
As for the numbering, I am not sure it has been set to 72.
The website download is build 50C. Expansys build is 50F (ie: 3 minor revisions higher), for some UK specific fixes.

Hi Kev,


I was just wondering about something, I spend alot of time in England, France and Lithuania (and I have 2 pyg cards for france and lithuania, and a UK orange contract card for the UK).

I bought my X in France and would like to know if the country specific specs and fixes are going to change the way the phone works with each countrys networks and each countrys sim cards.

Thanks,

[plinkykev]

Originally Posted by Cash

Hi Kev,

I was just wondering about something, I spend alot of time in England, France and Lithuania (and I have 2 pyg cards for france and lithuania, and a UK orange contract card for the UK).

I bought my X in France and would like to know if the country specific specs and fixes are going to change the way the phone works with each countrys networks and each countrys sim cards.

Thanks,

Hi,

ALL fixes and enhancements are carried across ALL firmware versions, so do not worry about missing out. The Expansys version is SLIGHTLY newer, as it is only just out. Those fixes, and more besides, will be out for that version, and yours, soon - hopefully end of October. The only real differences (as mentioned) are to do with the built in defaults/settings, and, for a couple of operators, colour schemes or an extra program. The core code is the same though.

pk

[stuclark]

Differences I've noticed so far...

It doesn't constantly ask for the unlock code every time I turn it on

It doesn't constantly try to copy SIM contacts to the phone

It feels a little bit snappier

The screen is much crisper on this handset (doing a side by side comparison) - this could just be luck though

It seems more stable with Mobiluck installed than the other handset is


I'll give more updates as and when I've played with the features a bit more.

EDIT: Oops, looks like I spoke too soon on the not asking for the unlock code problem - it still does this occasionally.

On the plus side, RF seems a lot clearer on this phone than on my old one

[swing]

Originally Posted by plinkykev

As for firmware update, that still does depend on Expansys to approve it, like all of the companies do.

Thanks - I've never seen a SIM free phone tied to a distributor before (certainly my 3650 is just a generic English SIM free phone, and gets that firmware applied to it).

What happens if Expansys don't offer to approve any further firmware updates (especially given the only unique thing to Expansys seems to be their name in the About screen) - could Sendo release it anyway?

Does this mean Expansys has the exclusive on Sendo X SIM free models, and is this likely to change, or are there other distributors in the immediate picture?

Thanks

[plinkykev]

Originally Posted by swing

What happens if Expansys don't offer to approve any further firmware updates (especially given the only unique thing to Expansys seems to be their name in the About screen) - could Sendo release it anyway?

Not sure. I do not imagine they would not approve it. If they decided to stop selling it in the future for any reason, then we might just release it anyway, as they would not have a reason to stop it. I would not worry about it.

Originally Posted by swing

Does this mean Expansys has the exclusive on Sendo X SIM free models, and is this likely to change, or are there other distributors in the immediate picture?

Not sure. I doubt they will be the only one.

[stuclark]

As I understand it from waht Kev's said - ANYONE selling a Sendo X is either selling an operator specific version, or if being allowed to sell a SIM free version, is actually selling a "distributor specific" version (all of which will most probably be identical)

This situation comes about because of Sendo's commitment to the network operators to allow them to brand the phone's software as they see fit - something which Sendo has historically always allowed operators to do far more than other manufacturers (although the likes of SE now do it a lot as well).

Because of this, in order to allow end-user downloads of new firmwares, Sendo have had to put in place a mechanism to prevent users downloading firmwares which were not meant for their phone. (i.e if operator X has removed feature Y, you don't want a user of operator X to be able to put operator Z's firmware on the phone in order to get feature Y back again).

For this reason, even SIM free phones have to be assigned an "identity", which will allow them to download new firmwares. This is why Expansys have been given an identity. As for them approving new firmwares, can you see someone like Expansys being anywhere near as picky about approving an update as someone like Vodafone might be? I'm pretty sure they'll just say "YES" the second Sendo ask them.

p.s. - me mentioning Vodafone in NO WAY indicates they might be getting the X - I use them merely as an example operator. Incidently, I don't KNOW who is getting the X, so maybe Voda are taking it, maybe not.

[swing]

Originally Posted by stuclark

For this reason, even SIM free phones have to be assigned an "identity", which will allow them to download new firmwares. This is why Expansys have been given an identity. As for them approving new firmwares, can you see someone like Expansys being anywhere near as picky about approving an update as someone like Vodafone might be? I'm pretty sure they'll just say "YES" the second Sendo ask them.

Yup, understand all of that. However, why not call all the SIM free ones sold through the distribution channel "Sendo"....

However, thanks to Kev I'm less worried about this, although time will tell whether Expansys take their time to respond, or just say "yes"

As long as Expansys don't start wanting additional branding being added to the phone too ......

Thanks