[Q] what's the difference between carriers versions of the same Lollipop? topic

I've got an unlocked gsm h8 that I'm using on the german o2 network. When I bought the phone, I thought that "unlocked" is the equivalent of "unbranded". However, after the Lollipop update I noticed that I got the T-Mobile version of the OTA, 4.19.111.2. Indeed, the CID of the phone is T-MOB101.

There is no obvious bloat on the phone, unless you count fm radio. But perhaps I just don't know what is there from the Telekom and what's from HTC. Moreover, other carriers, for example O2 seem to have the "higher" ROM version numbers, 4.20.xxx.x. What is the difference betwern them? Is there any point on spending time and effort to switch the CID and convert from T-Mobile to O2 or any other version? Is the "truly unbranded" version 4.16.xxx.x any different? They all seem to be Android 5.0.1, but then what do those numbers in ROM versions stand for?

[APP][2.2+] G-NetDuel - compares mobile network carriers coverage of dual SIM phone topic

G-NetDuel compares your mobile network carriers coverage.
This app works only for dual SIM phones that support needed Gemini functions.

The app measures coverage of both SIM operators and keeps score of the results.
The score is updated on location change and periodically every minute.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...tions.gnetduel

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[Q] Other carriers (bring your own phone) topic

I have a T-mobile Note 4 that I use on Cricket/ATT but i have a few questions on what this means:

1. Some one else sim unlocked and rooted the phone so i do not have the unlock code
a. Is there any thing i can do that would some how re lock the phone (ie kies "Emergency firmware recovery" or " firmware upgrade and initialization")
i. i am currently having problems (Issue) But i am worried to do this for fear of re-locking the sim to t-mobile
2. will my phone get Os upgrades (ie Lollypop is coming) if i return it to stock and do not root it how would it get updates? OTA, KIES, Odin, ...
a. does it matter that it is not on the t-mobile network?
3. Is there any features lost by having a t-mobile phone on another carrier?

Starting today, wireless carriers have to unlock your phone topic

Once you've paid off your contract, carriers can't say no.

by Jon Brodkin - Feb 11 2015, 8:31am CST

Major wireless carriers in the US have promised to unlock customers' phones or tablets once they've paid off their contracts, beginning today. This is the result of an agreement the carriers made with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in late 2013; the deadline to comply with all portions of the agreement arrived today.

http://arstechnica.com/business/2015...ck-your-phone/

Carriers can now unlock your devices topic

I read this in another thread but starting today it looks like now all us carriers can unlock a device that is in good standing domestically or internationally. What you guys think?

http://arstechnica.com/business/2015...ck-your-phone/