Debating Upgrade to WM2003, Vital issues only

[Guest Fathazam]

Hi Guys. I've ready many posts and have a pretty good understanding of whats going on. Here is a link to the phone that I got off ebay that I should be getting any day now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...5755991732&rd=1

I have a few simple questions.

I've read the pros and cons of updating to WM2003 and as of right now don't think that I want to do it. But some things that have been said make me want to upgrade. One thing is that there has been talk of the caller id not working correctly. Also there has been talk about reception and battery life being improved with the WM2003. It says in the auction that this firmware is updated. But i guess i'm not so sure what that means. It says that it has WM2003 on it but I'm unclear as to if hes saying it right. I want my caller id to work correctly, and I want decent battery life and reception, I don't know if this firmware upgrade he mentioned involves fixes for these things or not. Either way Please let me know what you think and give me suggestions. Thanks guys.

[Guest ronny]

Hi Guys.  I've ready many posts and have a pretty good understanding of whats going on.  Here is a link to the phone that I got off ebay that I should be getting any day now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...5755991732&rd=1

I have a few simple questions.

I've read the pros and cons of updating to WM2003 and as of right now don't think that I want to do it.  But some things that have been said make me want to upgrade.  One thing is that there has been talk of the caller id not working correctly.  Also there has been talk about reception and battery life being improved with the WM2003.  It says in the auction that this firmware is updated.  But i guess i'm not so sure what that means.  It says that it has WM2003 on it but I'm unclear as to if hes saying it right.  I want my caller id to work correctly, and I want decent battery life and reception, I don't know if this firmware upgrade he mentioned involves fixes for these things or not.  Either way Please let me know what you think and give me suggestions. Thanks guys.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

it's not true that battery life and reception is improved in 2003, caller id works fine with 2003 but not on 2002, i think what he meant by updated firmware was it's already upgraded to WM2003. and also WM2003 works fine with me.

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

The seller is very misleading with his facts.

Activates the 900Mhz Bandwidth which enables this phone to work overseas, hence WorldPhone.

The phone is either tri-band or not, flashing with any form of software will not change this so if the phone he is selling is AT&T it will be dual-band only and will not recieve the 900Mhz band

Adds MMS.

Not with 2003

Adds to your phone's value.

That's a new one :D

Makes your phone run much faster and smoother.

2003 will actually slow down the phone compaired to 2002, it is more system resource hungry and there will be a slight slowdown but not by much.

[Guest Z3RatuL]

Not with 2003

actually you can have MMS at your 2003 mpx200, but the MMS software is not published from the creator so if you have it you're illegal (just like WM2003 are not official therefore illegal too) Edited March 9, 2005 by Z3RatuL

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

So as I said not with 2003 then :D

[Guest tendomentis]

I know I'm rather new to this forum, but I've used two different mpx200's in the last two years and I have to say that for my money, WM2003 is the better OS. Like awarner says, it is SLIGHTLY more resouce hungry than WM2002, but that's to be expected.

As for MMS, I have to admit that I don't even use it. My carrier charges too much for it as it is, so I just send and receive pictures and other attachments through the email function on the phone. That's another reason I chose WM2003....it works BEAUTIFULLY with my Exchange email account, and WM2003 can even stay perfectly in sync with my Exchange account (blackberry mode).

Also, certain codecs won't work in Betaplayer (by far the best video player for smartphones) in WM2002 that do work in WM2003.

The interface is also somewhat better in WM2003 as opposed to WM2002 (such as smoothing of fonts, better color usage).

Also, while awarner is right that your phone will still be dual band if the original hardware was dual band, ATT DID lock earlier TRIBAND versions of their phones with software to disable the 900 MHZ band.

My first MPX200 was an ATT branded phone that came with WM2002 installed and only showed the 1900 and 1800 bands, but when I installed WM2003 on it, it suddenly showed the 900 MHZ band (and worked on a 900 MHZ ONLY carrier in western europe on vacation). The last of the ATT branded phones were hardware disabled against the 900 MHZ band, supposedly after the hacked ROM's started circulating. My second MPX200 was a straight, unbranded triband model from Turkey. I've also installed WM2003 on it and have no regrets.

Word of caution though, only use the most recent WM2003 ROM if you decide to upgrade (that's the one WITHOUT the cartman logo) and make sure you completely charge your battery.

Anyway, good luck with your decision.

[Guest Fathazam]

**UPDATE**

I emailed the person that i bought the phone from with this message:

"Is this phone updated to WM2003? If so do you know what version and who it was done by? Also are the apps from WM2002 still on the phone if so? Thanks"

His reply was:

"Yes, upgraded to Windows 2003 version 4.20.0. We just purchased these that way. All applications except mMode."

First thing is this version a good one or am I going to have to find/flash to a different one. And another question, i want to be able to use the internet/agile/email, with mmode not on the phone will I not be able to do that?

Thanks for prior responses guy's, it looks like I have 2003 whether I like it or not.

[Guest Z3RatuL]

guardedthought you have a point at what you're saying (I also like the fonts at WM2003) but let me state some things.

As smatphones with new OS' become more and more complex (more programs, more functions) they require more energy, so if you have a battery designed for a less power consuming OS and you install a more power comsuming one, then you won't be pleased from the standby time of this phone. For me this is the most important thing. I want (and I believe most of the people do) my phone to last at least 3-4 days.

As for the new 2003 ROM that goes around this time; It's not an upgraded one. It just has the GMS fix integrated and the maker has removed the funny pic that shows up upon startup.

Edited March 10, 2005 by Z3RatuL

[Guest tendomentis]

guardedthought you have a point at what you're saying (I also like the fonts at WM2003) but let me state some things.

As smatphones with new OS' become more and more complex (more programs, more functions) they require more energy, so if you have a battery designed for a less power consuming OS and you install a more power comsuming one, then you won't be pleased from the standby time of this phone. For me this is the most important thing. I want (and I believe most of the people do) my phone to last at least 3-4 days.

As for the new 2003 ROM that goes around this time; It's not an upgraded one. It just has the GMS fix integrated and the maker has removed the funny pic that shows up upon startup.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good point about the battery life. I've stopped noticing so much since I work in an office that requires all cell phones to be turned off (and they block all cell signals just to be safe), but on my weekends, my phone will last all day and far into the night on one full charge. I just have to say one thing that can't be said enough times: I've used EVERY available non-motorola battery for the MPX200 (a 750, 850, 900, 1050, and 1200 mAh battery) and I have to say that even the 1200 mAh non-motorola battery doesn't get as good battery life as the 850 mAh ORIGINAL Motorola battery. So, beware the counterfeit and inferior batteries out there.

[Guest hecatae]

cant get mms to install on 2003 os, gave up now.

and what exactly does the gsm fix do?

i've not flashed the gsm fix and my mpx200 happily logs onto Orange UK, calls work, gprs works, text works, what does this gsm fix do?

Edited March 10, 2005 by hecatae

[Guest ronny]

cant get mms to install on 2003 os, gave up now.

and what exactly does the gsm fix do?

i've not flashed the gsm fix and my mpx200 happily logs onto Orange UK, calls work, gprs works, text works, what does this gsm fix do?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

if your installing JMMS then you really won't be able to install it co'z its only designed for WM2002, the only mms application that would work on wm2003 is Arcsoft mms. gsmfix is like a patch or update which helps reduce gprs dropping, but i don't think that the Helomoto version of WM2003 needs it.

Edited March 11, 2005 by ronny

[Guest moosery]

on my phone, GPRS stopped working the day I installed WM2003. I havent been able to hold a connection since. Heed that warning!

No MMS - this is correct. But then, no camera either so how useful is MMS?

Nothing had the apparence of speeding up or slowing down. Perhaps a little, I didn't notice.

Theres a bug in WM2003 when writing a txt - it always messes up if you close the phone - putting a '0' on the screen - irritating - and whenever you reply to a SMS you have received, it will put the last word of your last SMS in as the first word. No idea why but that too is irritating.

(I have kept 2003 on though, because it extends the battery life a good 3 or 4 times longer than 2002..which is a good payoff when all I use the mpx for now is playing mp3s/videos...)

[Guest Z3RatuL]

(I have kept 2003 on though, because it extends the battery life a good 3 or 4 times longer than 2002..which is a good payoff when all I use the mpx for now is playing mp3s/videos...)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you sure you have a better batery now? Cause I think it's the same, either 2002 or 2003 maybe with a slight diference...

[Guest ngr2001]

Are you sure you have a better batery now? Cause I think it's the same, either 2002 or 2003 maybe with a slight diference...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ive tried many different Versions of MS Windows mobile on my MPX 200 and Id like to add my 2 cents.

So far I think the best OS for the MPX 200 is Windows Mobile 2002

Filename= BEN6-0630-012.img version = 3.0 (build 13258)

My backing for this is that with WM2003 I get really bad battery life for starters. Only 7-8 hours standby, and this is with IR disabled and max battert life settings all enabled and no GPRS use at all. Second with WM2003 my call waiting would rarely work. Third many games and apps I have would not run at all or welll on 2003. 4th the sound qaulity of the phone seemed worse with 2003 and the overall volume of the phone seemed weaker. 5th 2003 ran just a tad slower on my phone but you could hardly notice.

Benifits of 2003 that I see are really only one, Media Player 9, and that doesnt mean much because there are many different video players and music players out there for wm2002 that will blow media player 9 out of the water.

What I get with WM2002:

Every feature of the phone works. All the issues of 2003 Gone.

3.5 days of standby battery life.

Over 24 hours battery with over 6 hours of mp3 playing and an 1 hour of talk. ( I started my phone one night at 75% battery talked all day and played texas holdem for 7 hours while listening to music the whole time and the battery lasted just over 24 hours. Beats an Ipod any day.)

Apps for 2002 that I cant live with out And use the most:

Smart Explorer

Smart Movie + Xvid Codec (suck it Media player 9 fan boys)

SP task Manager

IA Style Tools

Worms (game)

skyforce (game)

Angelina Joli Theme

So I urge anyone who got there phone with 2003 like myself to try 2002. You will be surprised to sell how well it works with the phone because it was actually designed for this phone, unlike 2003 wich was not really designed with this phone in mind.

Dont fix whats not broken!

[Guest Z3RatuL]

That's what I was trying to say to moosery. That 2002 have better usage of the phone thus they drain less energy.

[Guest moosery]

hmm. You might be right on the basis that the mpx has a few bugs regarding battery life.

But - before the upgrade I had to charge it morning and night. If I left it 24hrs, it'd be flat.

After, more like 4 or 5 days standby.

Edited March 15, 2005 by moosery

[Guest moosery]

3.5 days of standby battery life.

Over 24 hours battery with over 6 hours of mp3 playing and an 1 hour of talk.  ( I started my phone one night at 75% battery talked all day and played texas holdem for 7 hours while listening to music the whole time and the battery lasted just over 24 hours.  Beats an Ipod any day.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

woah..you sure you have an mpx200??? thats a hell of a lot more battery life than I ever got! That's more than my c500!!

ok maybe I'm exaggerating, but I see your point in your post - 2003 does break a lot of things.

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

I would expect 3.5 on standby with little use with both versions of the OS

[Guest hecatae]

if your installing JMMS then you really won't be able to install it co'z its only designed for WM2002, the only mms application that would work on wm2003 is Arcsoft mms.  gsmfix is like a patch or update which helps reduce gprs dropping, but i don't think that the Helomoto version of WM2003 needs it.

I was trying to install Arcsoft mms, gave up and flashed back to 2002 os.

Also, people who are geting these fantastic standby times, which network band are you using the phone on, 1900, 1800 or 900?

Edited March 15, 2005 by hecatae

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

I'm on Orange 1800? it's not just the network it's down to reception

as well. I live in a bad area for any network :D

[Guest ngr2001]

My Provider is cingular, and since the mpx 200 is really only dual band with NO 850mhz support, I suspect im on 1800/1900mhz. Usually my phone reports thats its connected to a tmobile tower. I live in New Jersey.

ps. Im thinking of switching to tmobile and getting an unlocked mpx220, In theory I could then connect to cingulars towers and have a cheaper bill and unlimited internet for 4.99 Is there anyone out there reading this that has this secenario and can confirm the 850 band working with a tmobile sim pulling a signal from a 850mhz cingular tower on a mpx220.

[Guest ronny]

I was trying to install Arcsoft mms, gave up and flashed back to 2002 os.

Also, people who are geting these fantastic standby times, which network band are you using the phone on, 1900, 1800 or 900?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've installed arcsoft mms application and got it working in under 10 mins.

[Guest Kyubi]

I have 2003 on mine, and I can't get webpages that worked in 2002 to show, yahoo shows the portal, then any click is a can not find message, msn hope page is can not find. The web browser has real issues for me in 2003. the screan looks clearer and cleaner, but I kinda like the web on my phone time to time.so I will be flashing back to the 2002 Ben-6-1000 rom, it's faster and runs much much better.

Plus stable and does not have the Sim card issue with t-mobile.

If 2002 could have WMP 10 and the Clean fonts resolution of 2003 I would never upgrade my phone again.

[Guest hecatae]

I've installed arcsoft mms application and got it working in under 10 mins.

so, are you going to inform me how you installed it and got it working. :?:

[Guest ronny]

so, are you going to inform me how you installed it and got it working. :?:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

on what part of the proccess of installing it are you having trouble?