Re: Samsung u420: Did I just buy a very sexy peice of crap?

Thanks for the link. I selected Handset Repair Services, but all it gave me was 4 Alltel Retail Stores, one of which was the one I went to yesterday. I take it that means there is nothing in my area either.

You may want to call the other 3 and just check with them to see if they also have a service and repair center located in the store. I called the 2 that came up closest to me and they said they did not have an in store service and repair center but did act like they new what I was talking about, so it may just list them all as retail stores even though some may have service and repair centers in them and some may not. It wouldn't be the craziest thing on Alltel's website.

Sorry Folks, I talked to Samsung......No go on unlocking the phone! "This phone was designed to be inexpensive."
There is a usb that "might" work, the D807 model phone may be compatible, but Samsung has not released and has no plans to release any drivers for this phone because it was not designed for what we want! It was solely designed to be used with Alltel's Axcess Services.
The guy at Samsung was very adament that there is no way to transfer data via usb! I really believe that he would have helped if he could! I'm getting a different phone!!!

@TrustNo1: I will try your advice and call one of the other 4 stores (specifically one Alltel support gave me via email). However, I still doubt they will be of help.

As far as Samsung saying that the phone wasn't designed for USB transfer, this is similar to what they told me. My problem with this idea is that, right now, I am able to transfer files via USB! Using BitPim I can read and write to most of the phone's file system, of course with the exception of the /brew folder. I was under the impression that all of you could at least connect the the phone, too. But anyway, for them to say there is no way to transfer data to the phone is just ignorant, because it is very possible. So with their confusion in mind, I am beginning to see why every person I talk to at Alltel or Samsung says something entirely different.

Ok guys and gals...I have a problem and since this seems the be the best thread about the u420...I have a question as to how do I setup my phone number into the phone...I recently purchased this phone on eBay and would like to setup this phone (and since the stores are closed today in my home town) I would ask you all in hopes to be using this phone today or this weekend...

And what other info do I need from my old phone to transfer over...thanks!

Chad

On a better note, I have been able to upload and download pictures to the phone. It works like this:

Upload to phone:
You need to use the camera on the phone to take a picture of anything. It doesn't matter what, but we need a .jpg file on the phone to overwrite. Now figure out what that picture's filename is by going into the gallery on the phone (the filename will be 10 numbers). Then find that file in the /brew/shared/mp folder using BitPim (make sure View Filesystem in the View menu is enabled, then click Filesystem on the left-hand menu). Now, all you need to do is right-click on that .jpg file and go to Overwrite .... Select another .jpg somewhere on your computer, and let it upload.

Download off phone:
This one is simpler. If you go to the photo gallery on your phone, then select Options, and then Online Album, the photo will be copied to the /mm/mms folder (where, unlike the /brew folder, it can be accessed). So, using BitPim again, you can navigate to this folder and download the .jpg file to your computer (right-click and go to Save ...). Obviously, sending the photo to your Online Album will cost you, but it is possible that hitting the End button quick enough will prevent it from costing you (although I am unsure about this).

Anyway, do this at your own risk. I think the same thing would work for ringtones, but you would need to first buy a ringtone to overwrite, which would defeat the purpose.

@choad21: To be honest, I don't know much about CDMA networks, so I wouldn't know where to begin. Also, I have not run across any info online, pertaining to this model, that would be of help. You could always look through the hidden menus, but I think it would be in your best interest to be patient and take the phone to someone who knows what they are doing.

I had the phone too..it looks nice but lacks features.

Mr.Desheffer could you possibly post some screen shots of the upload/download process? Could you also give detail on cable model and drivers needed. thanks

The cable that I use I bought off eBay. I just searched for something along the lines of u420 cable. It is basically a no-name cable, and there was no other packaging to go along with it. I would love to provide an exact link to it on eBay, but the seller took it down (because no one was able to upload/download ringtones or pictures with it, even though that is an issue with the phone itself).

As for the driver:
As for uploading and download, do you mean of uploading and downloading pictures? I can take screenshots, if you'd like, in a few days. Although I think once you get the correct cable and drivers, the process will be a little more straightforward.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you need clarification on any of this.

GOOD NEWS! I don't know how I possibly missed this, but I have successfully put my own ringtones on my phone! It's actually very easy.

All that you need to do is, assuming you can access your phone's filesystem through BitPim, upload your ringtones to the /brew/shared/mr folder. Then, if you reboot your phone, the new ringtones will be detected, and available from the Multimedia > My Ringtones menu!

The ringtones that worked for me were in MP3 format. Specifically (for the tech savvy): Mono, 32 Kbps, 22,050 Hz MP3s, however any normal MP3 will probably work. You should, if at all possible, limit the ringtone length to about 20-30 seconds. All of this can be done with a good sound editor (such as Audacity, which happens to be free).

For me, this was one of my main quests as far as hacking this phone is concerned. The other being pictures, but I have already shown a decent way around that limitation as well (better than nothing, at least). So, let me know if you still have questions about any of these methods, or connecting to the phone in general. If you would like, I can also take some screenshots of BitPim in action, just let me know!

Okay, found an even better way to put wallpaper on the phone, again not sure how I missed this. Anyway, just put the pictures you want to use as wallpaper in the /brew/shared/lk/mp folder. Best of all, this folder isn't locked. The best format is probably a JPEG or GIF sized 176px x 182px.

Anyway, there are three types of folders in the /brew/shared folder:
/mp is for pictures, /mr for ringtones, and /ms for sounds. Not sure what the /lk folder is for, other than for an unlocked picture folder.

Awesome. I have yet to try this, but it's the best news ive had with this phone so far. Ty <3

I have posted all of the useful information I have found pertaining to this phone at Samsung SCH-U420 - HowardForums Wiki. It is more or less a summary of this thread, but hopefully in a format that is a little bit easier to read for anyone not already involved in this discussion.

Anyways, as with any wiki, please add your own useful tips or clarifications if something I've written doesn't make sense. Just trying to add some redundancy so that people can find the info and not have to go through our struggle.

Man you guys have been busy this past weekend. Sorry I missed all the fun. Desheffer, I just have to say that I'm glad you bought this phone.

Now to get that cable and start havin' some fun.