w00t: Flash the MPx200

I love it when the UberGeeks get involved with consumer electronics: it makes things so much easier for everyone else. Seems that the folks over in MPx200.org’s forums have a sticky post about flashing the Motorola MPx200 to use a non-AT&T version of the firmware. For those of you that bought it from someone other than AT&T, this isn’t a big deal. For those of us that did, this firmware is supposed to return the phone to a generic Motorola state. According to the posts online this means that the phone regains use of 900MHz band (huge in Europe/Asia) and some other software (including the “missing” picture/camera software) but it does not unlock the phone for use with other carriers; that still requires a code from places online. [I probably won’t bother trying this as the phone suits me fine right now, but you guys can feel free to play with it!]


77 thoughts on “w00t: Flash the MPx200”

  1. Question: I have an AT&T mpx200 that I would like to unlock to use on Cingular’s network, which of those remote unlock website do you recommned using, and will it also utilize the 900MHZ band as well as the 1800/1900? Thanks for your reply in advance.

    Ehab.

  2. I used GSMPhoneSource.com – they are unlocking for $15 now; I paid $20 back in the day.

    As for the 900MHz band that won’t help you with Cingular – they are 850/1900. No one in states uses 900 – it’s mostly 1900 with a couple of networks running 850 (Cinuglar and AT&T, mostly).

    And if you do want to open up the 900 band, you’d need either a firmware upgrade or one of the other tricks people are trying on places like modaco.com, howardforums.com, or MPx200.org.

  3. Hi, I’m living in Bangkok Thailand. I have got AT&T MPX200 3 months ago. Flashed it with generic ROM, it now can select 900/1900 option. But the only providers it can detect are DTAC and gsm1800 which both are 1800. I have tried using DTAC SIM and gsm1800 SIM and they both work. My question is that I want to use THGSM which is 900 band, so I can use my own SIM. Any idea?

  4. Got me – being stateside I haven’t flashed it because we don’t have the 900 or 1800 band. Out of the Motola, the MPx200 supports 900, 1800 and 1900 – under AT&T it supports 1800 and 1900. So if you flashed it, it should be 900 and 1800/1900 – I would try the 1900 setting and see what happens… after all, if I remember correctly, Asia doesn’t have 1900 – that’s only in the US, I think.

  5. I bought an MPX200, manuals are in German as is the disk. Where can I get a set of Manuals and the disk in English? also when I try send email I get the message “unable to connect. Please verify airplane mode is off and you have netwrok coverage, then try again” I have verified both of these. Thanks

  6. I have been trying to get the generic rom for the MPx200. I have Tmobile and bought an unlocked AT&T phone. Having trouble getting apps to install (Sunnysoft Mail Center 1.0).

    Anyone have an FTP link to this thing?

    Thanks!

    DRD

  7. I hev been trying to upgrade the firmware (BEN6-0630-012)for my mpx200 (AT&T) ,but i can not!!!

    I just got the following message:

    BAD NEWS!!UPGRADING MOTOROLA MPx HAS FAILED.

    Please re-upgrade the mobil or contact the service provider”

    I already unlocked the sim lock…

    Anyone could help me??

  8. xxcsu

    could you email me the firmware (BEN6-0630-012). i’m using spymac email.. so don’t wory about space.

    anyone.. what is MPX200 generic rom. If somebody have it, can you email me the rom.

  9. Not a freakin chance – try the links above and see where the latest download site is. I know for a fact that MsMobiles keeps a running update, seeing as they are offering WM2003 for it. And if you don’t know what the generic ROM is then it might be a good idea NOT to flash your phone at all.

  10. i bought a mpx200 from ebay.the phone has a at&t logo on it.the first day i got it i put my sim card in it and it worked fine.the next morning i looked at the phone and i was searching for a network.its been this way for about four days.t mobile in new york uses 1900mhz.i have it set to automatic.will tmobile support this phone.i even reset the phone to its default setting just incase i changed something i wasnt supposed to.

  11. Not a clue, but you might want to contact Motorola support… they can send you out a unit. Usually once it’s been unlocked and it’s working off the TMo SIM, it won’t re-lock itself… and it wouldn’t have worked unless it was unlocked. Very odd…

  12. Need Help!! I am new to this site, but I have read many forum disscussions that claim that the Motorola MPX200 will not work on the Cingular network efficiently because it is primarily 850mhz. The MPX200 is a tri band (900-1800-1900)phone with no 850mhz support. Most od the threads I have are older threads from 2004. Now that Cingular has merged with AT&T, Does this chnage anything? Because of the merger, will the MPX200 work on Cingular’s network because of the Sharing of the 1900mhz AT&T towers. I reallt need a solid answer. I am in Rochester, NY and I really want to use this phone, but I am hearing comfliting and outdated information. Someone please help!!

  13. Simply put, Cingular has chosen 850 for their “primary” band. AWS has had both 900 and 1900. Eventually, Cingular will disband both and go with 850 nationwide, but that will take years (if it gets done at all). I’d check with a local ROchester store and see about the coverage of “Cingular Blue” which is the old AWS network, but I wouldn’t plan it sticking around for long.

    In fact, your best bet is to go ahead and get a MPx220 or get a MPx200 and move to T-Mobile.

  14. Thanks for the quick reply. Unfortunately for me, I am locked into a contract with Cingular for another year, and truthfully I love thier service here in Rochester. The MPX220 is a great phone, but very expensive to buy without a contract, even on ebay :) The mpx200 would suit my needs and its a great phone for the price right now. So I guess it really boils down to whether or not it will work. Do you know of anyone who has sucessfully used a 1900 only phone with cingular service in the Rochester area. As you said, it will take years for the 850 switch to occur if it ever does, but for now I would love to use this phone here. At least till the price of the mpx220 drop to something reasonable. :)

  15. Just wanted to give a quick update. The phone works great. I am Roaming to an AT&T signal however becuase if the mergerbetween Cingular and AT&T, as long as you have a nation plan, there are no roaming charges. I was told by Cingular that wireless internet would not work. But I researched the net a lttle and manually input the settings and now it works just fine. Also, I get better reception on this phone then I have with any other cellphone I have owned. Motorola MPX200 ROCKS!!!!

  16. Nope – the phone was originally built with 900/1800/1900 and the AWS firmware specifically hid the 900 band… it was never built with the technology to handle the 850 band.

  17. Can Some on help with the mms program that dont come with the update for mpx200 smartphone 2003 i been looking for some time. Also gsm fix or any fixes to help battery life or network connecting problems

  18. Has anyone tried to flash the Mpx200 and gotten the Bad News.. error?? If so, did you correct it, and how?? I too am trying to flash it. I have the Firmware releases You can get it from here:

    http://rapidshare.de/files/1217414/Motorola_MPx200_WM2003_Original.zip.html

    scroll to the bottom where it says free click it, then scroll to bottom again and wait til timer goes to 0.. it will then DL.

    I can’t get mine to flash, ppl say you need to flash the older ROM but I cant find it either..

    Any help is appreciated..

  19. Quick update.. I was over engineering the process.. I have sucessfully updated the phone now and it works! Woot.. If anyone needs some help please feel free to ask..

  20. Keep being told “Bad News” when attempt to flash upgrade. have tried ALL my USB ports, disabling anti-virus, and trying different Roms.

    Please help, as this is getting distressing!

  21. MPX200 trouble:

    after being flashing the Rom i decided to stop the

    process because I have forgotten some important data

    without do any backup…

    now the phone is unusable, I can not reflash it because the software under WinXp(winzoz) doesn’t go ahead…

    someone can illuminate me?

  22. hello, in response to Cooper’s comment “Quick update.. I was over engineering the process.. I have sucessfully updated the phone now and it works! Woot.. If anyone needs some help please feel free to ask..”

    i am not sure how to update the phone, i succesfully obtained the update software/firmware/rom/image however i dont know how to get it on the phone, any help is appreciated. motorola pc ugrade wizard is not working for me, its never finding the phone

  23. Kerms, I don’t know if you got the instructions but this is what came zipped in one of my flashes.

    Follow these steps..

    Re-flashing MPx200

    This procedure will re-flash your phone to any firmware file. It will not back up any previous firmware version. Be 100% sure to save your personal data before proceeding as it will wipe the phone clean! This procedure is not reversible. To go back to a previous firmware version requires having a copy of the previous version and following this procedure again to install it.

    Unzip the PCUpgradeWizard file to your hard drive

    Double click the setup file (setup.exe) and follow the instruction to install the PCUpgradeWizard Package.

    Installation of USB driver for Handset

    Unzip the driver file to your hard drive (smartfon.inf) from Compass

    Power off the phone.

    Hold the left direction key.

    Plug in the USB cable.

    Windows 2000 should launch a splash which indicates that a new USB device is found.

    Then a hardware wizard is launched.

    Press Next to continue.

    Search for a suitable driver and press next button.

    Check “Specify a location” and press Next.

    Browse and select smartfon.inf from where you saved the file on your hard drive to install Smartphone 2002 Wireless Modem driver.

    Press Yes to continue the install.

    Finally check the computer manager, and a Smartphone 2002 Wireless Modem should appears in Modems.

    Down load the new software

    Unzip the latest s/w file (such as: BEN5-0400-012.bin)

    Save this file to your hard disk

    Starting PC UpgrageWizard

    Simply execute the PC UpgradeWizard file from your Programs Menu

    Follow the menus

    Once complete – unplug your phone

    Done

  24. Hello friends

    im having mpx200 mobile, it was purchased from the us, but it wont work in gsm 900 band, and im already reflash the rom with smartphone 2003 it shows the option for gms 900 but its not working any one can help me to unlock my mobile in gsm 900 band in india.

  25. Am trying the 2003 update and this part of the directions si unclear:

    “Down load the new software

    Unzip the latest s/w file (such as: BEN5-0400-012.bin)

    Save this file to your hard disk”

    What is that? the zip file has an .img file in it but not a .bin file

    help!!

  26. i am having MPX200. When i am trying to connect to GPRS i get error message as “Please verify airplane is off or check network connections” please do the needfull. If possible please give the manual settings for GPRS.

    Regards

    Naren

  27. How can I access the internet on my newly unlocked motorola mpx200?! I have cingular wireless here in NYC, but when i applied the cingular internet settings the internet still DID NOT WORK! what should I do?

  28. Hi Ashley im having the same problem with my phone. I called Cingular and than told me that if it was unlocked that i wouldnt be able to use the wap or internet on the Motorola MPX200 But I see that Carlos posted a statment saying he did get it hooked up.

    Carlos wrote:

    Just wanted to give a quick update. The phone works great. I am Roaming to an AT&T signal however becuase if the mergerbetween Cingular and AT&T, as long as you have a nation plan, there are no roaming charges. I was told by Cingular that wireless internet would not work. But I researched the net a lttle and manually input the settings and now it works just fine. Also, I get better reception on this phone then I have with any other cellphone I have owned. Motorola MPX200 ROCKS!!!!

    Carlos or anyone out there can you PLEASE help use out with the setting!!!

    Thank You,

    Adam

  29. Okay, so I’ve just about had it with technology. I previously owned a Motorola V551 phone and I loved it. However, the matriarch bought an MPX200 from some friend of a friend and gave it to me because I’m always late to appointments and she thought this phone could help (she is well aware I hate PDA’s – I’ve literally destroyed 3 already). I have bigger issues which I’m hoping someone can help.

    First and foremost, I suspect this function will be of little use to me as I am a MAC user and from reading these posts and others, linking is more of a PC thing. Strike one.

    Second, I have tried, per the advice of like 5 other blogger sites, to access the internet from my phone to no avail. I have the 20MB internet access on my Cingular Wireless account and I have been able to access the net from my other phone. With so many people saying you need to set your dialup to this, only to be told by someone else that you don’t need anything but the GPRS configurations, can someone who has CINGULAR wireless and has fixed the problem be kind enough and help me preserve what little hairs I have left. Even though I may not use the phone in the end (unless I figure out exactly what it can do), I want to fix this because I’m stubborn and refuse to lose.

    Thanks for your help.

    Desperately seeking Nirvana,

    Martin

  30. I think the first strike was a check swing. You can sync a SmartPhone with a Mac, but you need extra software to do it… take a look at MissingSync.com – Mark/Space makes plugins for iSync.

    As to the second, the MPx200 supports GSM and GPRS. Depending on your Cingular plan: if you’re on Cingular Blue/AT&T, your plan has GSM and GPRS support. If, however, you’re on Cingular Orange, I believe your plan has GSM and EDGE support – I don’t know if the Orange plans still offer GPRS coverage, though… the MPx200 does NOT support EDGE, so you if you have GSM/EDGE, nothing you do can help there. If you’re on Cingular Blue, try the GPRS settings for AT&T, since they should still be active.

    Also, you can try HowardForums.com for settings… they are fairly active for such things.

  31. Are you kidding, randy? Edge is just a type of technology that provides higher data speeds for wireless internet on mobile phones while the GPRS is just slower. If your phone supports edge, great, you can get high speed internet, but if not, then you will be using GPRS, all you need Martin T is the GPRS settings, I live in florida and here is my GPRS settings for the Motorola V551 I don’t know if this will help you.

    Name: Cingular

    Homepage: http://device.home

    Service Type 1: WAP

    Gateway IP 1: 066.209.011.061 (the zeros you might not need, it is ok,if it doesn’t show up)

    Port 1: 9201

    Domain 1: (this is left empty)

    Service Type 2: WAP

    Gateway IP 2: 000.000.000.000

    Port 2: 0

    Domain 2: (blank)

    DNS 1: 000.000.000.000

    DNS 2: 000.000.000.000

    Timeourt: 10 mins (this can be set to whatever)

    CSD No. 1: +14152441012

    User Name 1: WAP@CINGULAR.COM (ALL CAPS)

    Password 1: cingular1 (lower case and I believe that this is the password, the phone displays *********)

    Speed (bps) 1: 9600

    Line type 1: ISDN

    CSD No. 2: (blank)

    User Name 2: (blank)

    Password 2: (blank)

    Speed (Bps)2:9600

    Line Type 2: ISDN

    GPRS APN: wap.cingular

    User Name: WAP@CINGULAR.COM

    Password: cingular1

    Hopefully that will help you out, good luck.

    -marcio

  32. hmm for those intrested, I have a ex AT&T MPx200 and loaded up WM 2003. It does connect to the internet np with the brwoser settings correct. The cingular site does have fourms that explain how to set them. Also I have unlocked the sim but not completely as I cannot use another sim as of yet but I will be haveing that done later today. From what I have read and from talking to Cingular CS, they or most don’t know jack about this phone, the fourms are much more helpful.

    http://forums.cingular.com/cng/board?board.id=motorola

  33. So, you’re telling me that you can take any GPRS phone and put it on an EDGE network? Um, like NO or something…

    What I don’t know – and still don’t know, as I don’t have Cingular – is whether or not GPRS AND EDGE are currently supported on the Orange accounts, much less what the settings are – hence the “I don’t know if the Orange plans still offer GPRS coverage, though…” above. Which means, since it was obviously misunderstood or something, “Hey, I don’t know if Cingular still offers GPRS anymore.”

    Thanks for giving the guy the settings tho…

  34. I am going slowly mas. I have a MPx200 and I tried to upgrade it to 2003 without success as I could not find the file BEN5-0400-012.bin and stupidly used the “.img” file instead. Utter disaster, as was my earlier attempt to backup the original files (not a good night!). Could I trouble you for a link to the original firmware (with “.bin” files) or a 2003 update with the “.bin” file? Or if you can/wish to please email me. Thanks.

  35. Sorry, but as per all of my postings, I don’t provide ROM images for phones – besides, I’m about four phones removed from the MPx200. However, you should try the Forums listed in the post as they often have locations of such things.

  36. I just bought a MPX200 yesterday.

    I then bought the FW to update it to 2003 and sucessfully flashed it.

    I am an ex-AT&T customer, so I still have the blue AT&T sim. Can anyone recomend the right settings for this thing. I get little or no reception where my v400 got excellent reception.

    Thanks

  37. sir

    i m from india. ireceived a motorola MOBILE WITH GSM 850/1900 TECHNOLOGY from US .will it work in india?

  38. I completely erased the software off of my MPx200 when trying to upgrade to windows mobile 2003 using motrola upgrade wizard how to I get the windows mobile 2002 back on the phone when the phone is completely formatted meaning erased

  39. Hi, how can I check If my motorola mpx200 support gsm 900, i’ve heard that there is one dual-band 1800/1900 and triband 900/1800/1900. Where can I see in my phone if it can work on gsm 900. thanks.

  40. Hi Friends,

    Any one can help me to enable gsm 900 band in india and im already reflash the rom wiht windows mobile 2003.

    Regards,

    Uday

  41. Hi Pals

    I have 2 Issues…..

    1. I have upgraded my phone with Windows Mobile 2003, however the phone works only on GSM 1800 / 1900 settings. I want it to work on GSM 900/1800 … is it possible

    2. I am unable to install gprs settings. Our service provider has given following settings but i don’t see option of inputting settings starting with *

    Settings name Hutch_mms

    * Session Mode Permanent

    * Connection security Off

    * Data bearer GPRS

    GPRS access point portalnmms

    IP address 10.10.1.100

    * Authentification type Normal

    * Login type Automatic

    User name

    Password

    Kindly help on this….

  42. sir

    i m from india. i received a motorola V360 MOBILE WITH GSM 850/1900 TECHNOLOGY from US .will it work in india

  43. I have just purchased an Mpx200 and tried to flash is with the 2003 OS and get the same message as some others here…”Bad news…Flash failed.” Yet no one has explained what the problem is and how to properly fix the situation. Please someone with any knowledge speak up.

  44. India uses 900 Mhz..so I doubt that v360 will work. I had the same doubt today, so i called T-Mobile, and they confirmed it.

  45. Guys, How to rollback Windows Mobile 2003 from MPX2000. WM2003 is causing battery to drain in a day without the phone being much used. Any help will be appreciated.

  46. hey! i need your help guys, i have the mpx200 and i need the smartfon.inf driver to upgrade the WM2002 to WM2003. does anyone know how can i get it?

  47. oooouch:

    just upgraded to a new firmware my mpx200 and now it doesnt respond to any button, it doesnt turn on either. Cant do a hard reset (Blue button + power button) and cant reflash the thing. WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE IT WORK AGAIN???? Is there an alternate reset.

  48. ok lets see who can fix my problem lol i have a mpx200 i use t-mobile and i need the gprs settings t-mo tryed to send sms but it wont get to me i tryed myself on the web site and same thing but i can send my wife and son sms so i think if i had all the settings i could plug them in myself. also this wasnt a t-moble phone and i would love to have the t zones on it if possible please help

  49. hey! i need your help guys, i have the mpx200 and i need the smartfon.inf driver to upgrade the WM2002 to WM2003. does anyone know how can i get it? plz reply me in faraz_pervez87@hotmail.com and how can i do my cell is hang out on stsrtinf plz rply

  50. I have an MPx200 that beeps and hangs on Smartphone2002/MobileOperator screen at startup.

    I have reflashed several time but no solution.

  51. Hello Randy,

    I need a working link for the firmware upgrade for my MPx200 and I need the triband functionality. Can you please help.

  52. Hi all, i’ve Mpx200 and gotten the ‘Bad News.. error’ trying to upgrade to wm5. Now i’m trying to flash the phone but the pc doesn’t recognize it (Unspecified usb device), and the moto wizard upgrade can’t detect any device! :( :(

  53. i recently bought mpx200 and it hangs at start up…………….. so whats the solution for this should i flash….how do i flash it

    Pls Help Me!!!!!

  54. hi,

    i have samsung e315 ..it has dual mode(900/1900) frequency n it wokrs fine in US but wht i m confused abt is ,if it will work in india,where all the service providers uses (900/1800)??

    plz help me in this.

    thnx

  55. i have a moto mpx 200 and i have no signal because i`ve used the engineering mode code(*#**3643) and i`ve changed somme features there. Can you give me a answer, how to procede?

  56. Hi, I’m living in Bangkok Thailand. I have got AT&T MPX200 3 months ago. Flashed it with generic ROM, it now can select 900/1900 option. But the only providers it can detect are DTAC and gsm1800 which both are 1800. I have tried using DTAC SIM and gsm1800 SIM and they both work. My question is that I want to use THGSM which is 900 band, so I can use my own SIM. Any idea

  57. I need some help

    I cannot use my mpx200 anymore i wrongfully flash it

    need some help

    thank you!!!

    i need some link (BEN6-0630-012) for mpx200firmware

    thanks again!!!


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.