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From: nickless@flash.ras.anl.gov (Bill Nickless--A Free Man)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Cellular Phone Reprogramming
Message-ID: <6285@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 11 Apr 90 22:06:54 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 248, Message 7 of 7


In TELECOM Digest Volume 10 : Issue 245 the Moderator writes:

> [Moderator's Note: A reader has suggested a series of articles in the
> Digest regarding how to program various models of cellular phones.
> Included would be a discussion of security and supervisory techniques
> used by the carriers to detect fraud. Both the reader and myself feel
> that people who buy cell phones (like any other expensive electronic
> equipment) are entitled to know how to program their phones and how
> they operate. Both of us feel a cell phone user should not be at the
> mercy of a salesman or dealer to handle the reprogramming in the event
> a change of carrier is desired.  What do you think?    PT]

I recently purchased a cellular "handportable" telephone.  Being a
student, I found that there were as many as six numbers I would have
to provide to somone trying to reach me in an emergency.  I felt that
if I could get a cellular phone, I could set it to forward to a
landline phone local to where I was physically and not miss calls.

When I picked up the phone, the salesperson behind the counter faxed
in the credit application and received back from Ameritech Mobile a
credit authorization/agreement, which included a cellular number.  He
had obviously never programmed a cellular phone before (he said as
much) and had some difficulty following the one-sheet step-by-step
instructions provided by the store to program the device.

Although the instructions clearly stated "Not to be provided to
end-user" on them, he allowed me to copy down the important
information -- the "magic code" to put the phone into programming
mode.  (It's a Nokia Mobira handheld -- the same thing that Radio
Shack sells.  If anyone wants to know the code I'll E-Mail it to
them.)

I have the information I would need to reprogram my phone.  I would
suggest anyone else getting a phone programmed to request the same
information.

Interestingly, the GE Transportable cellular phone that someone
working in my office purchased provided the reprogramming instructions
in the owner's manual!  Of course, her machine came equipped with dual
NAM capability.  When it didn't work after being programmed
originally, she called the cellular company to ask about some of the
parameter settings.  Their response was incredulous: "You're trying to
reprogram the phone yourself?!!"

Now my observations:

By the very fact that someone is reading this Digest (or comp.dcom.
telecom) assumes a certain level of knowledge about computers,
communications, user authentication, and other issues.  However, there
is a market for cellular phones to people who don't have the
background in these areas.

I don't believe it is reasonable for the cellular phone companies to
expect the end-user to have to program the phone, as there are some
very technical parameter settings to worry about.  Also, the process
itself is rather daunting to someone who doesn't work with computer
equipment as a vocation or avocation.

Also, having dealt with complex systems (like a cellular phone really
is) I know that there are certain things to leave alone until I know I
can restore them to some known state.  If reprogramming information
was available to the general public, we would find a higher percentage
of phones being mis-programmed by people not careful or qualified to
restore the phones back to their proper state.  This would increase
the burden on the customer service departments of the cellular phone
companies.

In summary, I think the information could be made available, but it
might cost more to the cellular companies than they feel it is worth.


Bill Nickless             nickless@flash.ras.anl.gov or bnick@andrews.edu

PS: I don't want to come across sounding elitist, but we must recognize
    systems and policies must be designed while cognizant of the level of
    sophistication of the individual user.

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End of TELECOM Digest V10 #248
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