It’s getting very close to Christmas, so we thought we’d get another free Unlocking video out there, this time for the Orange Monte Carlo…What’s more, to make it even better, we will be giving away the unlocked handset! So for a chance to win this Unlocked Orange Monte Carlo handset, tweet the following:
Or if you're logged in you can use the 'Tweet article' button at the top left of the page.
The closing date is 11pm on Wednesday 21st December 2011, when we will randomly select a winner - see our Terms and Conditions at the end of the post for full details.
The Orange Monte Carlo
The Orange Monte Carlo has recently seen a price decrease, previously £149.99, now reduced to £ 119.99 (with a £ 10 top-up).
The Orange Monte Carlo has a 4.3 inch touchscreen, and is a 'larger' phone in general, weighing 120 g and with dimensions of 10.4 mm, Length 125.9 mm and Width 67.8 mm. It has a slightly plastic feel and some users complain that the back cover is a bit too flimsy for their liking. There are (as with a number of Android phones) issues with the battery draining quickly when using the radio, internet surfing and playing media.
So with it’s price point so close to the Orange San Franciscoand with such as small price difference between the two models, what’s the difference?
So the Orange Monte Carlo, offers a better camera – 5 megapixels, it runs on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and has HD Voice and Signal Boost. It’s large screen makes it easy to type, although I noticed the touchscreen’s responsiveness wasn’t that great when trying to enter the APN settings. SIM card removal also isn’t the easiest – as the SIM is positioned to the left of the battery and is slide in, rather than the lift and insert option. Again the Monte Carlo is very Orange branded and rooting this phone is probably a good idea – although it is a little trickier than the Orange San Francisco. The Orange Monte Carlo also has an 800 MHz processor, whilst the San Francisco’s is 600 MHz.
However, although you may compare the two from a price point of view, if you’re looking for a lower cost Android phone, there’s a new contender! Orange have announced the realease of the Orange San Francisco II .
Looking at the specs it very much resembles the Orange Monte Carlo, with a 5 megapixel camera, HD Voice and Signal Boost. Orange have also stated that the handset is going to be available for £99 – the original cost of the Orange San Francisco.
So what do you think? If you had £120 to spend on a phone, would you go for either of the San Franciscos? The Monte Carlo, or a different Android phone altogether – tell us in the comments below. Do you have the new Orange San Francisco II – what do you think?
Unlock Orange Monte Carlo free!
It looks a bit scary at first, but this is a really easy guide to follow – give it a go!
Next download this file and unzip it, saving it somewhere you can find it.
Connect your phone to your computer and make sure you have USB debugging turned on. Settings->Applications->Development->USB debugging is ENABLED on your Orange Monte Carlo. (You will need your normal SIM in for this, otherwise you see the screen ‘Enter Network Unlock PIN message).
Go into ‘Preparation’ folder (in your unzipped files) and run “Install-recovery=windows.bat”. You should see your phone reboot.
Remove the phone battery and disconnect the USB.
Now you are going to reconnect the phone via the USB, but when you reconnect your phone, make sure you’re holding the volume down button – do not let go of this until you see the black screen, with a white box and ‘FTM’ on it.
In the start menu on your computer, go to ‘All programs’ and find your previously installed QPST file. Expand the file and select “Software Download”.
In the tabs along the top of this software, you will see ‘Backup’ click this and choose where to save your backup file – “QCN” file.
If you can’t see your phone on there (as in the video) Go back to the Start menu, and select “QPST Configuration” and click add port – and the you should be able to see a port with your phone there. Exit this and go back to the Software download part of the program.
Go back to the ‘Backup’ tab and select your phone. Then hit ‘Start’.
Before continuing, go to the folder you’ve just saved your QCN file in and make sure that the file size is not 0, if it is, you need to repeat step 10 again.
Close the QPST software now.
From your unzipped files, now select the “Unlock”folder and run download.exe file.
Then to unlock your phone, press the “Start”button.
Wait for the process to be 100/100 – and you will get a completed message.
Go to the start menu and again open the QPST ‘Software Download’utility, click the ‘Restore’tab. Now Browse to find the QCN file you saved earlier and restore it.
Finally, remove your USB cable, put the battery back in and your giffgaff SIM card, and your phone is unlocked.
Apply giffgaff settings to Orange Monte Carlo
Next step is to apply your settings:
Click the Settings icon.
Select ‘Wireless and Networks’
Select ‘Mobile Networks’
Select Áccess Point Names’
If a giffgaff APN already exists hit ‘menu’ and ‘delete’’
Otherwise hit ‘menu’ then ‘New APN’
Enter the following details into the relevant screen
Too late the huawei blaze at £50 has flash and is a far better phone than this. The only thing going for it is the screen size I mean arm6 ???? who uses that now???
@bellfroot - the Blaze looks like great vfm but you evidently have not compared the specs if you think screen size is the only area where the Skate is better.
One comment on original article - probably not appropriate to sing the virtues of HD Voice and Signal Boost as these are Orange-specific. O2 does not have HD Voice as yet and I don't know if Signal Boost can be used on any O2 equipment either?
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