K700i Ringtunes

Yeah it's from vodafone.

So how do i either make my mp3's into DRM's (whatever they are?), or how do
i stop the phone from wanting "DRM's"???

Cheers,

Richie.

From what I understand there is nothing you can do about that.
Basically vodaphone is forcing its customer to "buy" mp3 from their
mobile online service. I believe this feature is set to the phone's
firmware.

Richie wrote:
> Yeah it's from vodafone.
>
> So how do i either make my mp3's into DRM's (whatever they are?), or how do
> i stop the phone from wanting "DRM's"???
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richie.
>
>

In article <41e992bd$0$14598$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net>,
AT <henonmap.@hotmail.com> wrote:

> From what I understand there is nothing you can do about that.

Do about what? As you top posted it is unclear what question you
replied to. It is much better to insert your answer under the
text you are replying to, not above it. This is not a game of Jeopardy.

> > So how do i either make my mp3's into DRM's (whatever they are?),

This is possible. Software that can add the required DRM to the MP3
files is available as a free download from the developers section of
Sony Ericssons web site. The download requires that you are registered
as a developer.

> or how do
> > i stop the phone from wanting "DRM's"???

This is harder, but if you have the correct firmware files it is
possible to remove the Vodafone "branding" from the phone.

in alt.cellular.ericsson, fm (postmaster@127.0.0.1) wrote a message
(news:y7dGd.4655$Sl3.110216@news4.e.nsc.no), which went something like:


> Let me guess: Your phone is from Vodafone? They don't allow
> non-DRM'ed MP3's as ringtones. Most other operators do.

It is worth having a look at the knowledge base on the sony ericsson
website

1) They have a tool to create DRM'd music (on the developer site which
needs a sign-up)

2) You are right about Vodafones policy (see below)

3) Sample bitrate etc is also key

MP3
MPEG-1/2/2.5 Layer 3
Bitrate: 8-192 kbps
Sample rate: 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 kHz


As a point of note, a friend has a vodafone K700i, (badged) and it is
different physically to my t-mobile (badged) one. I have an LED inside my
power button that flashes occasionally (signal), whereas his one does not
(probably a revision thing)


From the knowledge base:
"
You can use MP3 files as ringtones. However, if your phone is Vodafone
customized, you can only use DRM (Digital Rights Management) protected
content. MP3 files downloaded from Internet are usually not DRM protected
and can therefore not be used in a Vodafone customized phone.

Vodafone Group Policy
All new live devices have been pre-configured to only allow consumers to
use MP3 files as a ringtone if they are DRM (Digital Rights Management)
protected. Vodafone's decision to restrict the use of unprotected audio
files as ringtones is designed to protect our customers from inadvertent
copyright infringement, and to protect our relationships within the music
industry.
This is explained in the user guide of K700i as follows:
“If you want to use an MPmp3 file as a ringtone, you can only use some of
the copyright-protected files specifically designed as ringtones. Please
consult your network operator for more information”

For further information please contact your Operator."

Thanks for all your help guys.

I've been having a root about and I think I know what I have to do.

1) I need to have the 'relevant' DRM software from Sony/Ericsson's site (and
I've sort of figured out how to use it)

2) I need to upgrade my firmware. My current firmware is R2N001 which, i've
been told, won't work with the DRM software, so I have to upgrade it to
R2V001 or later.

3) But, to update the firmware to the latest version I need (according to
the SE site) a Syncstation (DSS-20 or DSS-25). So that's going to cost me
MORE expense.

4) Hope that after I've done all this, something doesn't go wrong with my
phone because my warranty will be invalidated?

I wouldn't care, but when I phoned upgrades last week I was actually after a
different phone but they weren't in stock so I rang the cancellation dept,
intending to cancel and go to another network. The guy in cancellations
asked me why I wanted the 'other' phone and I told him it was purely because
I wanted to have my mp3's as ringing tunes, nothing else. He then told me
about the K700i which I got instead. Now, a week later, I've got a phone
which is restricted by Vodafone from doing what I originally wanted it for.

Apart from this I'm happy with the phone, it's my first SE and it's pretty
good.

Never mind.

Cheers

Richie.

Thus spake Richie:
> 2) I need to upgrade my firmware. My current firmware is R2N001
> which, i've been told, won't work with the DRM software, so I have to
> upgrade it to R2V001 or later.

R2V001 is Voda UK specific...

> 3) But, to update the firmware to the latest version I need
> (according to the SE site) a Syncstation (DSS-20 or DSS-25). So
> that's going to cost me MORE expense.

IIRC, you can't use these with branded phones anyway for f/w updating. You
would need to have your phoned de-branded 1st.
--
Thank people in advance? thank them afterwards - other
people can also learn something, otherwise it's like shouting into a
void without any feedback!

I'm new to this mate, so I don't know what you mean?

Richie


"Paul Busby" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:34vaviF4cthksU1@individual.net...
> Thus spake Richie:
> > 2) I need to upgrade my firmware. My current firmware is R2N001
> > which, i've been told, won't work with the DRM software, so I have to
> > upgrade it to R2V001 or later.
>
> R2V001 is Voda UK specific...
>
> > 3) But, to update the firmware to the latest version I need
> > (according to the SE site) a Syncstation (DSS-20 or DSS-25). So
> > that's going to cost me MORE expense.
>
> IIRC, you can't use these with branded phones anyway for f/w updating. You
> would need to have your phoned de-branded 1st.
> --
> Thank people in advance? thank them afterwards - other
> people can also learn something, otherwise it's like shouting into a
> void without any feedback!
>
>

Thus spake Richie:
> I'm new to this mate, so I don't know what you mean?

Branding is often done for a particular network's range of phones. These
will have the network's logo screen printed onto the front & also sometimes
the rear of the phone. Far more importantly, they have extra firmware that
modifies the menu (User Interface) which often includes built-in GPRS & WAP
accounts. This branding varies in how obtrusive it is - Voda seem to also
remove some menu items & disallow stuff like downloading MP3s for use as
ringtones. Voda will argue that this protects users from copyright
infringements & keeps their music provider/owner partners happy. The cynical
will suggest it's a way for the network to make more money 'cos you are
forced to use their on-line ringtone service which provides DRM'd tones
which can't then be copied on. Branded phones will invariably be locked to
the network but can be removed at a price without touching the branding, or
both can be removed. The Voda branding also inhibits web based firmware
upgrading using the SE SyncStations.

A regular contributor on uk.telecom.mobile provides a debranding &/or
unlocking service for a range of phones in the UK. The K700i costs £22.50 to
have the branding removed & phone unlocked:
www.unlockingshop.co.uk
The alternative is to take/send your phone to a major Voda shop which has a
service department to have them update the firmware to allow DRM'd ringtones
to be used. A list of f/w versions is available here:
http://www.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic=66330
Instructions on how to find your f/w revision are at the bottom. If you
intend to frequent NGs regularly, please consider bottom posting which is
the convention for most of them - it makes reading the threads much easier


--
Thank people in advance? Thanking or cursing them afterwards at least
gives some feedback!