I am about to switch from Nextel to Verizon. Partly because Nextel doesn't want to offer me anything to keep me on-board with them and the service is REALLY sucky.

Verizon has offered me a deal on that new Motorola Razr. Some of the reviews I have read about the phone vary from "spectacular phone" to "spectacular garbage". I've also read that the phone has software that is 'locked' from Verizon. I won't be able to transfer MP3 ringtones or Wallpaper from my computer to the phone because Verizon wants you to purchase all of that crap from thier stores. This being the internet, I am sure there is a way to 'unlock' the software or replace the Verizon software all together.

Anyone here (*EARTHMAN?* ) have any ideas on how this is done? I would like to know this before I head out and sign up w/ Verizon.

Where or where is our Earthman?

I am back! Had a move on my hands, and then all kinds of computer problems stemming from what I figure is a bad wireless card.. lol

As for the RAZR on verizon it is not that bad of a phone other than the fact that you need to hack it to get some of the functionality. The main reason the providers lock down the functionality is two-fold.. one, they cannot be held liable for people putting "downloaded" music as ringers, and two, they figure they can make a buck in the process.

I for one have carried this phone on a carrier here (Telus) and absolutely loved it. There are certainly hacks available that will allow you to have your own pics and ringers, and they are relatively easy to run across. The one site that I would look at is howardforums there is always someone there who has changed the flex or seem on the phone to enable one thing or another.

Yes, I guess verizon locks it down so you can't transfer your MP3's and backgrounds from your computer. They want you to buy those things from them, which is assinine since the damn phone is Bluetooth!!

I looked at howardforums and I got lost.

I was kind of hoping for the Earthman - to - CoZ - Idiot Guide

Well, let me see what I can find on howardforums, and I'll let you know what I come up with.. Luckily the bluetooth on the one I used ehre was unlocked so I could transfer that stuff freely...

Thanks man, I will be looking forward to your reply w/ the utmost anticipation. I might as well go ahead and order the service now being by the time you find the 'how to' the phone should be in my hands at that point.

I believe after you get the phone, you will need the imie (sp?) number from it and along with that information and the service provider, you will be able to get the unlock code.
Don't ask me where but there are places online where you can give those two pieces of info and get the unlock code.

I'm actually buying the same phone and would like h4x too!!! Must.. have.. h4x!!

Actually, the CDMA based RAZR does not have an IMEI, it has an ESN. Also to unlock the features, no special codes are needed, as it is just software flashes (Seem file Edits) that you need to do to the phone to open up the extra features the provider has limited.

That was all greek to me brother. I don't even know what the heck you are talking about. Hence, why I am coming to you for help.

The verizon rep should be calling me back today so I can go ahead and order the phone. So let me know as soon as you can. Thanks Earthman.

It's on it's way here, I will have it in my hands by later this afternoon.

Update:

I've got the phone in my grubby little hands!

Damn, it's tiny!!!

Thats what you'r next GF's gunna be saying CoZ, any way, mine shuold be here Monday.

And I get my DS LITE on Sunday.. mm goodies.

Haven't had the chance to look the stuff up for you guys yet, been a long week between moving and shortages of staff at work, hopefully I will get sat down this weekend to get you the info...

I've been doing some digging around on my own. I got a copy of Motorla Phone Tools and the USB drivers for the RZR (USB Drivers here)

The USB driver works great, it charges my phone. I can use Motorla Phone Tools to connect to my phone and do my Contacts. Supposedly if you switched the phone model to a different phone it would allow you to access the Multimedia studio, which it does, but it's a "Blank" section. I can't download or upload anything to the phone. Then I read (from here) that you can use P2KCommander to get into the phone, tried that, get a "Volume Read error" with the program, that didn't help either.

I am still looking around. This sucks.

EUREKA!!! I've Got IT!!!

More imporantly, I didn't blow anything up while doing it.

Here are the instructions: (this takes into account that you downloaded the above USB drivers and stuff)

1. Install Motorola Phone tools (works with 4.0.4b and earlier), reboot and make sure you can connect to your phone. (close the app when finished)

2. Install PST 7.2.3 with patch (I couldn't find PST 7.2.3 anywhere on Google. The closest I found was PST 6.7 so if you find 7.2.3 let me know? It worked w/ v6.7 though).

3. Install (not really - just unzip to a folder on your pc) P2KSeem
Obtain from http://www.v710.org/mark/Files/P2KSeem4V710.zip

4. Run PST 7.2.3 phone programmer - Please Note -
The Windows Add New Hardware Wizard should run, automatically search for, find and install the new drivers which you installed in step #4. If not, point the wizard to the folder you unzipped the drivers in. The phone will now be listed as Motorola USB Modem in device manager.

(If your phone shows up in device manager as Motorola USB Modem, launch PST using the Phone Programmer icon off the start menu. Again, if this is your first time doing this, or you have connected the data cable to a different USB port, the Add New Hardware wizard will run. It will try to install.... Communications Class - Control Interface, Data Logging MCU Interface, Test Command Interface, and Accessories Interface. For all of these, choose "Install from a list or specific location..." then click next. On the following screen, to the right to the "include this location in the search" click browse... and direct it to where you downloaded/unzipped the V3C PST drivers to. If the add new hardware wizard does NOT run, check device manager for a Motorola USB Device group with Accessories Interface, Data Logging MCU, and Test Command Interface listed. If you have them, you can proceed. If you do not, unplug your phone, power it off/on, and reconnect. These devices must be installed for P2KSeem to connect to the phone! They will only be listed in device manager while PST is still running so DO NOT EXIT PST! ) PST really gives NO indication that it is connected to your phone.

To test... Launch PST... When it comes to the main interface, click File -> New -> Phone Book File -> Ok. You will be presented with Untitled Phone Book File. Use the Phone pull down, and click READ. PST should start reading the contents of your phone's Contacts. If it finishes, PST is connected. NOTE: Be careful when doing this in PST, choosing an improper option (even for reading) can fry your phone!! (This step did not work for me using v6.7, it 'failed the test' but I contined on regardless and it worked in the long run'

5. Leaving Pst 7.2.3 running on your pc, Open P2kSeem.exe from the download location.

6. P2KSeem should say "connected" in the lower left corner.

7. Locate the LOAD area in the bottom right corner. Change the Seem to 2742 and Record to 1. Once they are filled in correctly, Click the LOAD FROM PHONE button.

8. You will see a bunch of "junk" (really its hex codes, etc) in the top part of the window. Under Selected Byte Details (lower left section) you will see OFFSET:0000 (that is where the cursor is at load time.)

9. You want to backup the original seem. click save to file, choose the location and name the file 2742_0001.bak and ok to save a backup copy

10. Go down to Line 000060 and go over to e3 (may be e2 on some phones)

11. Click on the box for BIT 0 to put a check mark in it. That sets BIT0 = 1 (this turns on the USB File transfer for music/video/pictures in the motorola phone tools software) **do not experiment with any other bits**

12. Click Save to Phone

13. Click Restart Phone

14. Close P2kSeem & PST

15. Unplug the usb cable from your phone, and then plug it back in (this resets the connection with the pc after programming)

16. Open Motorola Phone tools

17. Press <F6> or go to menu/setup/general setup

18. click on communication tab and choose change modem

19. click Next 2 times

20. click the box beside "do not automatically detect..." & click next

21. click on Motorola CDMA & choose V3CM & Click next

22. click finish & Ok

Now your MPT software should connect with your phone and show you the multimedia studio & calendar options.

I can see all the pictures I took w/ my phone and transfer them back and forth from the phone to PC and vice-versa. As proof here is a picture I took this morning while at work w/ the camera phone:





I am just glad I was finally able to find this information and do it myself so I can share w/ all of you!

Ok, update. I can't 'see' the ringtones while perusing the phone. Not sure where they are kept. There is a directory called 'ringtone' but it is empty. I am going to try to upload something to that dir and see if it appears in my phone.

Ok, disregard, I got it to work. As long as you place your ringtones into the 'audio' directory, you can find them on your phone.

*WHEW* close one.

.... now if I could just figure out how to get games and applications installed on the phone, all would be well...

* calls in a bomb threat to Dewit insurance on western ave*

Leave it to you to think of something twisted to do w/ the picture!

I am sure this is a stupid question but I was wondering if someone could help me. I want to restrict calls for someone and I have a Verizon Razr phone. When I attempt to do this, it asks for an unlock code. I was wondering if there is a factory code they come with. I tried all obvious combinations with no luck. Any advice would be very helpful.

There is a factory code. However, I do not know it. Supposedly, there is some law out there that states that your cell com company has to provide you with the unlock code after you have been a paying customer for a year. Again, I don't know if this is true or not, but I do recall reading it somewhere. Theoretically, all you have to do is call Verizon customer service and ask them for your unlock code for the phone.