Orange is doing the replacement by courier, not HTC. HTC will still service your phone if you want, with a £15 fee and a week or more wait (though most people on Modaco who've used it say 5 days is about average).

So, if you ask Orange for a REPLACEMENT you will NOT get your old handset back (so, if it's already unlocked, the new one will be locked).

If you send it to HTC they will service your EXISTING handset, so anything modifications like unlocking etc. will (should?) still be there.
Steve.

Ok - here's the skinny!

Orange contacted me today (nearly a week late I admit, but at least they did). Their engineers and the HTC guys have come up with a modification to the design that means the dust issue should (!?) be resolved - all new handsets will be made using this (the '3rd generation' for want of a better description). 

More immediately relevant IMHO is that they've listened to our opinions as voiced in the online petition and have now changed their fault diagnosis system so that the screen dust problem is now classified as a genuine fault        so that if you have the problem they will courier you a replacement within 24 hours of you contacting customer support (dial 150 on your dusty c500!)

As it'll take a while for the 3rd gen handset to get out if you buy a brand new handset it'll be the 2nd gen for a while. However all replacements should (!?) be the 3rd gen ones.

Let me know how y'all get on in having yours replaced (assuming you've not invalidated the warranty by opening your phone innards up!) 

Steve

Right so.. what the heads up from Orange? Have they actually fixed the dust issue yet or are they still sending out useless replacements.
I wanna wait for them to sort it.
Do HTC send you a new phone , or replace the screen in yours..do you have to inform Orange?
I pay loads per month to Orange, i don't see why I have to put myself out to sort this....
Useless bag of pants.