Nokia Software / Firmware Unbranding

I wrote this page to condense into one place the programmes needed to remove the branded firmware supplied on Nokia handsets, particularly in the UK, and return it to it's generic form. The branding of firmware often restricts functionality such as VoIP and re-maps some of the keys to promote your network's premium content. Attempting to do this myself I found some of the information confusing so i hope this will be useful. I know that people will want to be sure they have all the information to hand before they start, and it is important to read this guide completely before you begin.

I provide this service with no guarantees, every effort has been made to ensure that the information is correct but you perform this entirely at your own risk, I can not accept responsibility for any loss direct or otherwise. Back up your data first. 

The Principle

What You Need

The Actual Procedure

Product Codes

The Principle

All Nokia handsets have a Product code. This Product code is specific to:

• The Model, e,g, N95, N97, N91, 6288 etc.
• The appearance e.g. Black, White, Silver finish
• The Language and region of the handset
• The Network that customised it

Your current product code can be found under your battery, it's a 7 digit number beginning 05xxxxx

Now many things in the unique product code are largely irrelevant for the firmware, it doesn't matter whether you use a product code for a different colour handset. If you use one from a different region then it will have different language packs, but it will still have english.

When you use the Nokia Software Updater this looks at the product code and supplies the handset with the latest version of the firmware / software appropriate for that associated product. What we will do is change the product code to one that we want, then use the Nokia Software Updater to Download and install that software.

You'll need to do your research for the new product code. I discuss this below.
You should back-up your phone settings using the PC suite so you can restore them to the phone afterwards.

Unlocking and Unbranding

I've received a lot of emails asking about the relationship between unbranding and unlocking. The two are not realted, unbranding will have no affect on the simlock and the unlocking will have no affect on the branding. If you have an unlock code it can be entered before or after you unbrand the phone.

What You Need

• Nokia Software Updater (NSU)
• Nemesis Service Suite

Nokia Software Updater (NSU)
This is from Nokia, it is the tool that has been developed to allow people to get the latest version of their original firmware without visiting a service centre.
It can be downloaded from the Nokia Europe Site but is actually fairly easy to find on any of the nokia sites. You Should install this and run it (it requires an active internet connection) and convince yourself that the application is able to communicate with the phone. This procedure can only be used on phones compatible with the NSU.

Nemesis Service Suite This is an application that actually does the changing of the product code. It can (preferably) be downloaded from the maker's site BPreaks.brinkster.net for the latest version. (left hand side, downloads section) Alternatively, if you REALLY can't find it, i have Mirrored version 10389 here (5.5meg). (update) and Version 103814 here (6.2meg). *!*!*! (Update 23 JUN 2009) *!*!*! The B Phreaks website appears to be intermittent at the moment, meaning all the download traffic has come here. I think the phrase 'increasing at an exponential rate' is over used, but that does appear to be what is happening and my ad click revenue just isn't enough to support it. I've had to take down the download links for now. I'll put them back up as soon as i can. In the meantime i've uploaded the files to Rapidshare and Megaupload, the rapidshare links are the best/fastest... version 1.0.38.09 Rapidshare Megaupload 5595KB 15 Mar '07 version 1.0.38.12 Rapidshare Megaupload 6604KB 13 Jul '07 version 1.0.38.14 Rapidshare Megaupload 6501KB 05 May '08 version 1.0.38.15 Rapidshare Megaupload 7297KB 23 Jun '09 This product must be installed. During the installation answer the question 'Select from the following the service devices you will be using after the installation' with 'Virtual USB device'

The Actual Procedure

Assuming that all of the above has been downloaded and installed...

• Backup your Data!!!! Note the pcsuite and other nokia backup solutions will regard your unbranded handset as different from your branded one. so you will only be able to restore the data that you could to another handset, calendar, contacts, bookmarks etc. You will have to change the settings yourself. More recent phones have UDP (user data preservation,) and may well retain the user data, but you should still backup.
• Exit the PC Suite, (completly including the tray app,) if it's still running
• Connect your phone (if you haven't done this before you will have to wait for the drivers to install)
• Launch NSS
• Click 'Scan for new device', upper right of window
• Click 'Phone Info' then 'Scan'

• Enter the new product code discussed below
• Check 'Enable'
• Click 'Write'
• The phone's product code is now changed, it only takes a second and there is no note to say it is done.
• You may confirm this by reconnecting to NSS

You now simply have to close the open programmes and run the NSU, i've not included instructions on running the NSU because it is fairly straight forward, though it is worth mentioning that the process takes about half an hour and is quite power intensive so the phone will need to be fully charge, or connected to the mains. When the phone reboots it will have the new, unbranded firmware!!!

Phones such as the N97 and 5800 may fail to boot at this stage. I believe this is because the UDP is trying to apply the settings from the old firmware to the new firmware. This may not be possible as the phones are now different. This is expected and no reason to be alarmed. Should this happen it can be fixed easily using the method described below.

You can now restore your data.

Should the worst happen and your phone fail to boot with your new firmware it's not all over. This is extremely rare. Many phones (symbian phones, 6120, N Series, E Series etc.) it is now possible to restore them to their original condition. To do this we use something called the 3 keys technique. This technique should only be used to reset a phone when no other method is available. This is a Hard reset.

To reset using the three keys technique power off the phone, hold down the green call key, the number '3' key and the star '*' key. Then power on the phone. follow the on screen instructions.

Touch UI phones eg 5800 are hard reset by holding down red, green and camera whilst powering on.

The N97 is hard reset by extending the keyboard. and holding down the shift key (on the left) the space bar, and the delete key whilst powering up. See diagram.

Product Codes

I'll list below all the product codes that i can but a good solution is to simply Google something like 'Nokia [model] unbranded product code' in my experience the best search term is:
nokia [model] "unbranded" OR "generic" "product code" OR "productcode"
Even if the code you need is listed below it would do no harm to verify it, new codes become available all the time.

(Please note i am keen to expand this list if you find a product code, especially an unbranded one, that's not listed please do contact me.)

Enter your search terms Submit search form

5800  XpressMusic - for a complete list of 5800 codes click here

0552438    British Isles RED
0558982    Euro1 RED
0559066    Euro2 RED

6120 Classic (RM-243) 6120c - for a complete list of 6120c RM243  codes click here
0546327 = EURO 2
0548017 = Russia
0546342 = EURO 3
0546324 = EURO 1
0546343 = Balkans
0549776 = APAC2
0549782 = Thai
0547589 = Hong Kong
0548222 = APAC1

6500c (classic) - for a complete list of 6500 codes click here
0546101 RM-265 CTR BLACK LATIN EURO C
0547774 RM-265 CTR BLACK LATIN EURO C UK
0548829 RM-265 CTR BLACK LATIN EURO A
0548830 RM-265 CTR BLACK LATIN EURO B
0548859 RM-265 CTR BLACK BOPOMOFO APAC P TAIWAN
0548860 RM-265 CTR BLACK STROKE APAC Q HONG KONG
0548861 RM-265 CTR BLACK STROKE APAC S SINGAPORE
0548862 RM-265 CTR BLACK STROKE APAC S MALAYSIA
0548863 RM-265 CTR BLACK LATIN APAC T AUSTRALIA
0548864 RM-265 CTR BLACK LATIN APAC T NEW ZEALAN

6500s (slide) - for a complete list of 6500 codes click here
543754 RM-240 CTR SILVER EURO-A LATIN
548496 RM-240 CTR SILVER APAC-W LATIN
549716 RM-240 CTR SILVER EURO-B LATIN
549717 RM-240 CTR SILVER EURO-C LATIN
549718 RM-240 CTR SILVER EURO-C LATIN UK
549719 RM-240 CTR SILVER EURO-C LATIN FRA
549720 RM-240 CTR SILVER EURO-C LATIN TUR
549721 RM-240 CTR SILVER EURO-C LATIN ALS

6630 - for a complete list of 6630 codes click here
0517773 - Euro 1

6680
0521637 Generic France

E61
0523307 Euro-A Silver
0529663 Euro D AZERTY keyboard

E75 (RM 412)  - for a complete list of E75 RM412 codes click here
0570054: RM-412 Euro QW1 UK/IR Black/Silver
0570055: RM-412 Euro QW1 EURO Black/Silver
0570135: RM-412 Australia Black/Silver + N342

N70
0523737 Euro-1
0524122 Australia, New Zealand / Stainless Silver & Black

N71
0526139 Euro1 Alps Black-Silver
0526144 CT Russian Black-SIlver
0526147 Russian CIS
0532348 Generic Europe Swap

N73 - for a complete list of N73 codes click here
0527009: RM-133 CUST.TRX EURO 1 (Deep Plum)
0527009: RM-133 CUST.TRX EURO 1 (Deep Plum)
0529568: RM-133 CUST.TRX FRANCE (Deep Plum)
0529569: RM-133 CUST.TRX ALPS (Deep Plum)
0529602: RM-133 CUST.TRX EURO 2 (Deep Plum)
0529604: RM-133 CUST.TRX SOUTH AFRICA (Deep Plum)
0529605: RM-133 CUST.TRX SCANDINAVIA (Deep Plum)
0529606: RM-133 CUST.TRX BALTIAN (Deep Plum)
0529607: RM-133 CUST.TRX RUSSIAN (Deep Plum)
0529780: RM-133 CUST.TRX HUNGARY (Deep Plum)
0529782: RM-133 CUST.TRX GREECE (Deep Plum)
0529785: RM-133 CUST.TRX GULF (Deep Plum)
0529786: RM-133 CUST.TRX ISRAEL (Deep Plum)
0529787: RM-133 CUST.TRX ROMANIA (Deep Plum)

N80 RM-92 for a complete list of N80 codes click here
0529378 Euro1 Smooth Stainless
0529379 EURO 2 Smooth Stainless
0522206 FRANCE Smooth Stainless
0526959 ALPS Smooth Stainless
0526961 TURKEY Pearl Black
0526963 SOUTH AFRICA Smooth Stainless
0526965 TURKEY Smooth Stainless
0526966 SCANDINAVIA Smooth Stainless
0526967 BALTIAN Smooth Stainless
0526969 RUSSIA Smooth Stainless
0526970 UKRAINE Smooth Stainless
0526971 CIS, BULGARIA Smooth Stainless
0526972 EURO 3 Smooth Stainless
0526973 BALKANS Smooth Stainless
0526974 GREECE, CYPRUS Smooth Stainless
0526976 GULF Smooth Stainless
0526978 ROMANIA Smooth Stainless

N91 RM-43
0523183 Euro1

N95 -1 for a complete list of N95 codes (basically these plus the Sand coloured ones) click here
0536062 EURO1 - Plum
0536063 FRANCE
0536064 ALPS
0536065 EURO2
0536066 TURKEY
0536068 SCANDINAVIA
0536069 BALTIAN
0536070 RUSSIAN
0536071 UKRAINE
0536072 CIS, Bulgaria
0536073 BELARUS/MOLDOVA
0536074 EURO3
0536075 BALKANS
0536076 GREECE, CYPROS
0536079 ISRAEL

N95 - 2 (8GB)
0550348: FRANCE
0550352: ALPS
0549487: EURO1
0550359: EURO2
0550370: TURKEY
0550372: SCANDINAVIA
0550373: BALTIAN
0550798: RUSSIAN
0550799: UKRAINE
0550800: BELARUS/MOLDOVA
0550375: CIS, Bulgaria
0550378: EURO3
0550379: BALKANS
0550801: GREECE, CYPROS
0550802: ISRAEL
0555180: SINGAPORE
0555181: MALAYSIA
0555187: EMERGING ASIA
0550455: INDONESIA
0550454: NEW ZELAND
0550453: AUSTRALIA
0550459: THAILAND
0550457: VIETNAM

N95 - 3
N95 - 4 -  As far as I'm aware these phones are all shipped with generic firmware. I'm UK based so i've never actually seen one. if anyone has any other information i'd love to hear it.

N96 - RM247
0568238: UK,IRELAND - Warm Titanium
0543713: EURO 1 - Warm Titanium
0543716: EURO 2 - Warm Titanium
0543717: EURO 3 - Warm Titanium
0543712 FRANCE - Warm Titanium
0543714 ALPS - Warm Titanium
0543715 SCANDINAVIA - Warm Titanium
0543718 BALTIAN - Warm Titanium
0543719 BALKANS - Warm Titanium
0543720 GREECE, CYPRUS - Warm Titanium
0543721 TURKEY - Warm Titanium
0543722 RUSSIA/BELARUS - Warm Titanium
0543723 MOLDOVA - Warm Titanium
0543724 UKRAINE - Warm Titanium
0543725 CIS - Warm Titanium
0543726 ISRAEL - Warm Titanium
0543727 ARABIC2 - Warm Titanium
0543728 NORTH AFRICA - Warm Titanium
0543729 SSA1 - Warm Titanium
0543730 URDU - Warm Titanium
0543731 FARSI - Warm Titanium
0554268 SSA-French - Warm Titanium
0554269 UAE - Warm Titanium
0554452 SPAIN - Warm Titanium
0554453 SSA-PT - Warm Titanium
0556600 BULGARIA and ROMANIA - Warm Titanium
0567372 ARABIC1 - Warm Titanium
0567373 KSA - Warm Titanium
0567374 LEVANT - Warm Titanium
0567375 ALGERIA - Warm Titanium
0567380 SSA Multi - Warm Titanium
0568663 SSA-11 - Warm Titanium
0568664 SSA-10 - Warm Titanium

N97 - Nokia N97 RM505  for a complete list of N97 rm505 generic unbranded product codes click here
Note that the N97 requires NSS version 1.0.38.15 or higher.
I should mention that during the firmware update v10 to v11, 11 to 12 and 12 to 20 the UK update came out sometime after the EURO_QW1, so for UK owners (like me,) i'd suggest the euro code.
0585162: N97 UK CV B
0570817: RM-505_EMEA_EURO_QW1 Black
0586577: N97 Spain (ES) CV B
0585951: N97 France CV B
0576124: RM-505_APAC_AUSTRALIA Black
0575297: RM-505_APAC_HONG KONG black

N97 mini - Nokia N97 mini RM-555, for a complete list of n97 mini RM555 generic or unbranded productcodes click here
0580188: RM-555_EMEA_EURO QW1 CB
0585106: RM-555_EMEA_ISRAEL QW CB
0585099: RM-555_EMEA_RUSSIA QW CB
0585090: RM-555_EMEA_SPAIN QW CB
0585264: RM-555_MENA_ARABIC 1 CB
0585081: RM-555_EMEA_FRANCE QW CB
0585420: RM-555_APAC_AUSTRALIA CB




(GSM Magic aka TNT Enforcer - as of version 12 of NSS this is no longer needed, so i have removed it from the guide, a download link is included here for historical reasons.)




LINKS
Nokia BB5 (3G) 6630, 6680 6681, N70 and N90 Unlocking : Nokia DCT 4 Unlocking
My Brain training puzzles site. : Hotmail on your S60 symbian phone