Explanation of terms used with Sony Ericsson mobile phones

Bruevich · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 225

CID = This "number" defines the version of SE's protection present in the phone.
New CIDs are deployed from time to time, for the sole reason of preventing them from beeing unlocked/flashed/tampered with by non-SE service tools. Current CIDs in use by SE are 29/36/37/49. SE-based LG/Sharp phones use the same system (but different versions). The OTP (One Time Programmable memory) and EROM of a phone might be protected by different CIDs, usually the case in newer K600s/K608s. If SETool reports OTP CID36 and Flash CID49, doing a "Recovery" in the software and replacing the EROM with a CID36 one will render the phone a normal and fully non-TP supported CID36 one.

CDA = This "number" defines which variant of a specific firmware a phone is supposed to have.
It lets among others SEUS (Sony Ericsson Update Service) know which language-pack/branding/bandlocks a phone is to be flashed with. A generic (unbranded) K750 for use in Scandinavia will be CDA102337/12, whilst a Telenor-branded K750 will be CDA102338/62. Both will be flashed with the same languages/dictionaries, but the latter will be flashed with Telenor-branded firmware (branded firmwares are considered by most as utter crap).

BLUE/BROWN/RED:
This "color" defines what kind of phone we are dealing with.
BLUE phones has been assembled at the factory, but never been programmed with software/GDFS/IMEI (remember kids: the IMEI is stored in the OTP (One Time Programmable memory))
BROWN phones are "developer phones", for testing. Less restrictions are present, as these are used for "debugging/beta" purposes. As of CID36, a phone has to be converted to BROWN to unlock it.
RED phones are your typical retail ones.

GDFS:
This is the phones "stash", where all settings and calibration data is stored (this also goes for the firmwares IMEI-resource as well as the SIMlocks). Similar to other brands use of NVRAM (Non-Viotile Random Access Memory).

IMEI = International Mobile Equipment Identity.
A 15-digit number which includes information on the origin, model, and serial number of the device. The model and origin comprise the initial 8-digit portion of the IMEI, known as the "Type Allocation Code/TAC". The remainder of the IMEI is manufacturer-defined, with a "Luhn check digit" at the end (which is never transmitted). The "Luhn check digit" is calculated from the rest of the IMEI.

It should be noted that in SE-based phones, the IMEI is stored in two places, the OTP (One Time Programmable memory) and GDFS. The GDFS IMEI is normally read from the OTP, but this can be circumvented by SETool function to "change" the IMEI. This patches the firmware into allowing different OTP/GDFS IMEIs. It is the GDFS IMEI that is reported to the network, so changing this will "de-bar" blocked phones. SEUS is not fooled by this, on the other hand, and it should also be noted that doing this is illegal in most countries.

EMMA = Service software/solution by SE themselves. Protected by the EMMA smartcard to prevent non-licensed usage. Current version is EMMA3, though EMMA2 is still alive (but kinda useless on newer phones). The EMMA smartcard contains an algorithm that allows EMMA to communicate directly to/with the phones CID, so performing operations the way they were intended. The smartcard and its algorithm has not been cracked. Current EMMA access levels exists:
Service Update - Can't unlock phones.
Service Update Pro - Can't unlock phones.
Network Operator - Can't unlock phones (but sure as hell can lock them ).
Service Center Std - Can't unlock phones.
Service Center Rc - Can unlock phones, as they have a special version of the smartcard with a CSCA key.
Research & Development - Can unlock phones, as they have a special version of the smartcard with a CSCA key.