New Simplier Approach to Disable Read-Only Network Settings on BlackJack II

A couple months ago I published an article that details the steps required to remove the network settings lock that has been turned on by AT&T with their Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM update for the BlackJack II (and PanTech Dual - if it’s ever released). The steps require you to application unlock the phone and install a registry editor so you can modify a couple values in the registry. While it’s not very difficult, I can imagine that some people are nervous about editing the registry or even application unlocking the phone. Now there’s a quick, easy, and downright simple solution to removing the read only lock placed on the network settings. Follow the steps below and you will have that locked removed in no time!

1. Open the File Explorer (found under Start \ All Programs \ Applications \ File Explorer) and browse to the Windows folder. Once in the Windows folder you are looking for an application called “UAMgr”. The quickest way to get to this file is to push the letter U on the keyboard and the phone will jump down to the files that start with U.
2. Run UAMgr by highlighting the file and pressing down on the action button. When the application opens you will see a screen that says “UAPMgr/Streaming” in the top title bar and “UA/Streaming Manager 2008″ in the center of the screen.
3. Press the Menu \ Tool \ Unlock ReadOnly. The phone will then present you with a confirmation screen indicating that Read Only has been unlocked. Press OK and then Close and you’re done.

Special thanks to encece for helping locate this tool. I’ve tested it on a couple of my phones and it works great.

How To Unlock GPRS Settings on BlackJack II with Windows Mobile 6.1

Now that Samsung has made the Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM upgrade official for the BlackJack II, I should take a minute and remind everyone about the post I made a while back that helps you to unlock the carrier networks settings. This is a new feature that was added to Windows Mobile 6.1 by special request of the carriers who are looking for ways to reduce support calls from people that toy around with the network settings and don’t know what they are doing.

Of course, anyone with a unlocked BlackJack II that is looking to use the phone on a different network will need to unlock these settings and modify them to match the settings for their carriers network.

You can read the original post with full details on how to remove the lock over here. And to everyone that’s upgrading, enjoy the new ROM and while you’re flashing your device, why not take on the No Reboot Challenge. What better time then right after a fresh and clean install of the OS.

New Network Settings Lock on Windows Mobile 6.1 Devices

Windows Mobile 6.1 adds a new level of locking to your device. Along side the standard Carrier lock, SIM lock, and Application lock, you will now find a lock for the carriers data network settings. This lock prevents you from modifying the carriers pre-loaded data settings. Why would anyone want to lock those settings? The answer is simple, to reduce the number of support calls from customers who have screwed them up. However, there are some people, like me, that need to modify those values. From what I’ve been able to gather on this, AT&T appears to be the only carrier that has actually turned this feature on. I’m sure this will change, but for now, it’s just AT&T.

But don’t worry, I’ve got the details on what you need to do to unlock this setting and let you change the values as needed.  Before I get into the steps I need to give the standard disclaimer about modifying your device. I don’t know what effect this will have on your contract with AT&T - I imagine none, but who knows.  Also, there is a chance that you can really mess up your device by changing the registry.  If you’re not comfortable with making changes to the registry, I would recommend you don’t attempt these steps. So, with that out of the way, on with the details.

1. Before we can make any changes, we need disable the application lock on the device. In this case, since it’s a BlackJack II device I recommend downloading the GPS Unlock tool from MoDaCo.  This small CAB file will setup the built-in GPS to work on COM4 and also start the application unlock process.  Once you’ve installed it on your device, download SDA_ApplicationUnlock and run it on your computer with your phone on ActiveSync (or WMDC).  Congratulations, your BlackJack II is now application unlocked.
2. If you don’t have a registry editor for your device, download one and install it.  For editing the registry on the device, I recommend PHM.  If you want to do it from your desktop, then try SOTI’s Pocket Controller Pro.
3. Using the registry editor, browse to the following location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Comm \ ConnMgr \ Providers \ {7C4B7A38-5FF7-4bc1-80F6-5DA7870BB1AA} \ Connections \ AT&T IMS
4. In this location you should find a key called ReadOnly with a value of 1.  Change this to 0 (that’s a zero, not an O). You’ve now unlocked the first GPRS setting. 



5. Now, browse to the following location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Comm \ ConnMgr \ Providers \ {7C4B7A38-5FF7-4bc1-80F6-5DA7870BB1AA} \ Connections \ MEdia Net
6. Once again, you will see a key by the name of ReadOnly with a value of 1. Change this to 0 (that’s a zero, not an O). You’ve now unlocked the second GPRS setting.
7. Finally, browse to this location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Comm \ ConnMgr \ Providers \ {EF097F4C-DC4B-4c98-8FF6-AEF805DC0E8E} \ AT&T WAP
8. And once again you will find a key by the name of ReadOnly. Change this to a 0 (that’s a zero, not an O).  You’ve now unlocked the Proxy value.

That’s everything you need to do.  Now you’re free to modify or disable the pre-configured settings to suit your needs.  One thing to note: Each of the those registry locations had a long unique string after Providers.  This will be the same for any Samsung BlackJack II device with Windows Mobile 6.1.  However, I don’t expect that it would be the same for another device. So, if you’ve found your device has these locks and it’s not a BlackJack II, you will need to browse the entries under Providers to figure out which one is the right one.  Please post the correct values along with your phone in the comments so that others can benefit from the knowledge.