Well, there are a few free options that are easy to use (and phone unlocking software isn’t always easy to use!). I came across Ruchira Sahan‘s blog which details the process, and provides the required software. Basically, you need to generate an unlock code which is based on your IMEI number (a unique code for your modem/SIM card). Software gets that for you, and will unlock the modem for you as well. He details it much better, but a summary of what I did to unlock my Huawei E1752 (an older o2 broadband USB modem) is:

1. Close the o2 connection software
2. Download the software he links to in this post, run it (there was only 1 COM port to select in my case, and it had an obvious HUAWEI label), and let it retrieve the IMEI
3. Using that IMEI, I used the calculator he links to from this post to generate an unlock code
4. Using the same software, I then enter the unlock code from the previous step, and it unlocks the modem for me, with no errors or delay
5. Finally, because the o2 connection software is still crippled (and wouldn’t work with my Three SIM), I downloaded the generic Huawei connection software for that model, and many other models, from dc-files.com. I did check for the presence of a virus, but still be careful when downloading any of this software. I created a new profile in that software, but that’s all I did (nothing with dial in numbers, networking, APNs or anything like that).

I rarely use my o2 Broadband Modem, now that I have tethering with my iPhone4 (and a plan that includes 2GB of data), but it is handy to have in the laptop bag. It’s much handier to have with a SIM from another network on standby too!

There are 2 issues potential customers of 3Pay for iPad face.

Firstly, Three claim you can’t get prepaid MicroSIMs (the smaller SIM card that goes in to an iPhone 4 and iPad), and that they only exist for post-pay, monthly contract users. As of the time of writing, their website mentions they’re “coming soon” (and has done for a number of months now, and their phone support people told me twice in the last 2 days that they don’t exist and that there is no immediate release plans for them. I came across a thread on boards.ie where a Three representative claims 3Stores had them. A quick trip to Liffey Valley 3Store (note, the actual Three shop, not a reseller of Three services), and a short time later I’d one in my hand, promisingly labelled “MICRO SIM 3PAY BROADBAND[sic]“. I was told there was 1GB data included (no sign of how to get this, or any credit on the account). I also provided details to register, which I had to bizarrely handwrite, but registration doesn’t appear to have happened (I had to fill in the details on the MyThree website). So, ignore the 3 website, and ignore what 3 tell you on the phone. Go to a 3Store and you can get a prepaid MicroSIM.

The second problem many will face is registering on the MyThree website, so you can top up and buy daily/weekly/monthly passes for your “broadband”, you’ll need to be able to receive an SMS with your newly create password (or, for future reference, to retrieve a forgotten password). The iPad, of course, has no such SMS facility. So, you’ll need to find a device capable of receiving an SMS that will accept your new Three MicroSIM. Given that the most common device is an iPhone 4, and that most of these are locked to their network, you’ll need to find an unlocked iPhone 4, or an iPhone 4 from Three. Alternatively, you can hack together, or buy, a MicroSIM to SIM adaptor. In my case, I made an adaptor and used a newly-unlocked 3G modem from o2 to both test the Three network and receive their SMS.

So, once you can overcome those 2 hurdles, you should be able to enjoy Three’s network on your iPad, with 3Pay.

Feel free to contact me if you think I can answer any questions on any of this!

Google, for example, has 1.5m results for the same search term!

Engadget have a decent brief video review of the new device, if you have yet to see it.

My new battle is now do I wait for this, or get the G1 (I no longer need to worry about whether I get the iPhone 3G or the G1). That the N97 is still based on Symbian Series 60 worries me, as does its resistive touch-screen (rather than the much more responsive capacitive variant). However that’s a whole pile of features in a much better looking phone that the G1, that I just can’t ignore! Decisions, decisions!

The cost for the licence is an index-linked cool €100,000 per pair of 1MHz spectrum allocations (out of a possible 10MhHz). So ComReg is charging up to €0.5m for the spectrum to be used for emergency services only, by state bodies, or state-endorsed bodies, only!

Given that the spectrum is limited, that the system will be nationwide (overlap of frequencies in the different cells), used by multiple users, groups and organisations (multiple channels, eating up bandwidth), and will allow for local communications (think PTT for those who know) as well as remote-to-base, it is likely that the entire spectrun will be used up in time.

Shouldn’t the licence fee for state emergency services radio spectrum be cost-based?

Traditionally, mobile top ups are a matter of purchasing a fixed increment (€10 or €20, usually) credit value from a shop who use their in-house PoS systems or their Credit Card validation machine. The customer gets a printed receipt with a code they then enter once they call their mobile phone provider’s top up number.

However, in An Post’s case, you’ll purchase a similar piece of paper with a code on it. You’ll have to text that code to a short code (a 5 digit number, rather than a full-length mobile number), and wait for a response, by text, giving you the actual code you need to use when calling your top up number. There’s no mention of any cost associated with the short-number text, or response text for that matter. Presumably both are free, but it’s not clarified anywhere.

Have you ever tried reading a text message while on a call? On some phones it’s not possible, on most phones it’s not an easy thing to do. Many people will resort to having to write down the number. An entirely unnecessary step (given that PostPoint branches are all interlinked and already have interconnects with other services like, say, AIB).

An Post do raise a valid positive point to the new service and that is that someone can buy a gift top up without needing to know what network the recipient is on. I’d imagine that person represents a tiny minority of pre-pay users.

Finally, media coverage, and An Post’s own PR, suggests that it’s a top up service for all networks, but it doesn’t appear to be. Nowhere is there a mention of Tesco Mobile.

Then, move that patch as follows:
mv ipcop-1.4.21-update.i386.tgz.gpg /var/patches/patch.tgz.gpg

That destination file shouldn’t already exist, so if it does you may need to investigate why the previous patch wasn’t applied correctly.

Finally, apply the patch:
/usr/local/bin/installpackage --install

You’ll be prompted when the patch is applied. Reboot if the patch requires so.

First and foremost, they don’t provide a geographical number, just an 0818 “Universal Access” number (whose original intent was to be a standard “national” rate, but now most providers charge a premium for calls, most don’t bundle, and mobile operators smack on quite a profit). So I use Skype (to beat my Digiweb Metro rates and my o2 rates).

I call, get through to a pleasant lady who asks me for my account number (didn’t have viewing card number to hand), and 1st address line. She asks me for the first line of my address and then asks why I wish to cancel. Then she says “no problem” and transfers me to “Customer Loyalty”. Another lady there, without saying hello or introducing herself in anyway, asks me to confirm my full address. “Thank you – beep beep beep”; I get redirected to the I assume is the 1st option of the IVR main menu, which is to subscribe. After waiting to see if I’d any other options, I get the 3 beeps again and disconnected completely.

OK, not so bad, I retry again 2 more times. At different stages I get cut off with the beep-beep-beep (which sounds like it’s their phone system, rather than Skype/telco) and eventually disconnected. FAIL!

Off to fill in the online web form. I do so furnishing them with the required 30-day cancellation notice, my account number, and an instruction to contact me (since I can’t contact them) if they need any further details. I hit the submit button and am immediately redirected to the contact us page (which lists email address, etc.) and just a generic message mentioning to “click here” for a privacy policy, only it’s not linked/clickable! Nor is there any mention of whether my mail was sent or not!

My last (well, before cancelling the direct debit, that is) is to try regular email, but then I received an email “Delivery Status Notification (Failure)” from Setanta. Sure enough, it’s my message that I submitted. Now here’s where it gets embarrassing for Setanta! The online form obviously sends a message with a from header of the email address submitted on the form (rather than an email address on their own domain like onlineform@setanta.com. Given that their mail servers are configured to query SPF records (bravo Setanta!), and that the online form sends mail from the specified address (think “on behalf of”), the mail failed to send, because I have responsible SPF records set up on my cgarvey.com domain. The reason given for the failure was “failed to meet SPF requirements” which I’d expect.

I have to forgive the online form ‘mail from’ header misgivings as the designers/coders probably don’t know who is responsible for the mail servers, let alone what SPF is. So I was just about to email them the same message (pointing to here) and see if that mode works, when I get another email. It’s a standard mail, “Your comments are very welcome and will be passed to the relevant department”.

Phone service: FAIL. IVR: FAIL. Online form feedback: FAIL. SPF querying on SMTP (in itself good) sending bounces (to potentially random addresses), but passing on the mail regardless: FAIL.

Setanta Sports: FAIL!

I had subscribed to the notion I’ll be back for Magners League in the Autumn, but I’m not so sure anymore!

However, if you visit the former, you’ll be prompted for a username/password for bfcnet.into.ie. www.into.ie is the website of the INTO (Irish National Teachers Organisation).

Sites not working unless you use the www. are annoying enough, but sites that use the root domain (nra.ie in this case) to point to a non-public website, or a website of a different meaning altogether are far more annoying.

Both are hosted with Novara (now a part of Digiweb), but I’m not sure who is responsible for the sites.