Plaese help - I am totally confused

[Smiffy]

I have recently bought a branded orange S2 model GT-i9100P.
I am already on orange network.
I want to unbrand the phone.
I am not that bothered about unlocking it. But if it is easy to do then I will do it.
I have searched and searched for how to unbrand it, but I just keep going round in circles.
So I have some specific questions:-
1) Does it need to be unlocked before it can be unbranded?
2) Is it easy to unlock? If so, how.
3) I have downloaded ODIN, but I cannot locate anywhere the latest stock UK simfree firmware. Where can I find the firmeware?
4) Is it OK to use simfree firmware on a phone that is simlocked?

Sorry if all these questions seem amateurish, but it is very hard to find a definative answer on the web. I am an embedded software engineer by trade so if I am struggling, then others must also be.
Thanks.

[Richardj]

The first thing to be aware of is, because you have the I9100P, the phone has NFC(near field communication) and orange signal boost, by flashing new firmware you will loose both of these. At present there isn't much choice in firmware that will keep NFC and orange signal boost for this model as it is quite new, what firmware is available still has all the orange branding. You can flash stock I9100 firmware but as I said you will loose NFC and signal boost.
For stock I9100 firmware have a look on samMobile.com link here: http://www.sammobile.com/firmware/?p...m=GT-I9100&r=1 you can also find guides on there to help you.

To unlock it you will need to root it first, look here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...0#post18805560 once unlocked you can download an app from the market called Galaxy S unlock.

[greenman]

Good info from Richardj, but can't blame you for wating to get rid of all that lovely Orange bloatware (
If you want a guide on rooting, de-branding and unlocking, I wrote one on the giffgaff community board.
Have a look here, but bare in mind it's not bang up to date, but will give you a god idea of what's involved.
http://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Lea...g/td-p/1377821

[Richardj]

Good info from Richardj, but can't blame you for wating to get rid of all that lovely Orange bloatware (
If you want a guide on rooting, de-branding and unlocking, I wrote one on the giffgaff community board.
Have a look here, but bare in mind it's not bang up to date, but will give you a god idea of what's involved.
http://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Lea...g/td-p/1377821

That's a good guide greenman, but in smiffy's case he has the I9100P, P being for NFC and by flashing to a stock firmware he will loose this and the orange signal boost, if he doesn't mind loosing these then flashing a stock I9100 firmware is the way to go.

The link I provided for rooting is for DoomLord(zergrush exploit) and it doesn't leave you with the yellow triangle on every boot up and it doesn't affect the binary counter.