Base Band 5
Encyclopedia
Base Band 5, abbreviated as BB5, is the youngest mobile baseband generation implemented on Nokia
mobile phones and the replacement for prior DCT generations.
This generation of Nokia phone basebands uses a new range of chipsets, bus systems and components as well as enhanced security mechanims preventing manipulations on firmware and system configurations. The phones system interface has changed over from previous generations to allow a new flash concept via USB for example.
The system is designed to prevent unlocking of certain key capabilities of the handsets (such as usable network or installation of unsigned operating system), which has not been approved by Nokia
or the network. Just like the DCT-4 locking system, the unlocking code is unique to each handset. However, unlike DCT-4, the unlock code is much harder to calculate as each code is randomly assigned to the handset and stored on a special chip.
In May 2007, an engineer named Dejan Kaljevic from Serbia
(who earned his fame from the free DCT-3 and DCT-4 unlocking solutions), has released a free program which can unlock many of the older Nokia BB5 phones such as the Nokia 6630
, Nokia 6680
, Nokia 6681 and the Nokia N70
. There were reports for other models include the Nokia E60
, Nokia E65
, Nokia E70
, Nokia N71
, Nokia N90
, Nokia N91
, Nokia N93
, but was deemed to be fake, since the unlocker only supports older BB5 models. This is easily done by the end-user through the phone's Pop-port
connecting a legacy FBus
compatible cable such as DKU-5, to a computer running his unlocking software package. Since then, commercial unlocking solutions have been offered by some others along with successful claims on some newer Nokia BB5 phones as well.
In July 2007, Kaljevic released the instructions and schematics to build a hardware solution for unlocking the Nokia N95
. It was based on a CPLD logic IC and worked by manipulating CPU instructions on-the-fly, fooling the phone that a wrong unlock code was accepted like a correct one. However, it is not designed for end-users, since it requires more advanced knowledge in electronics and soldering skills to accomplish.
In August 2008, Kaljevic released a full unlock box for newer BB5 handsets that doesn't require any soldering.
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
mobile phones and the replacement for prior DCT generations.
This generation of Nokia phone basebands uses a new range of chipsets, bus systems and components as well as enhanced security mechanims preventing manipulations on firmware and system configurations. The phones system interface has changed over from previous generations to allow a new flash concept via USB for example.
The system is designed to prevent unlocking of certain key capabilities of the handsets (such as usable network or installation of unsigned operating system), which has not been approved by Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
or the network. Just like the DCT-4 locking system, the unlocking code is unique to each handset. However, unlike DCT-4, the unlock code is much harder to calculate as each code is randomly assigned to the handset and stored on a special chip.
In May 2007, an engineer named Dejan Kaljevic from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(who earned his fame from the free DCT-3 and DCT-4 unlocking solutions), has released a free program which can unlock many of the older Nokia BB5 phones such as the Nokia 6630
Nokia 6630
The Nokia 6630 is a 3G smartphone made by Nokia, using the Series 60 platform with the Symbian operating system, released in November 2004. It is an evolution of the 6600 and 6620 smartphones, supporting tri-band GSM The Nokia 6630 is a 3G smartphone made by Nokia, using the Series 60 platform with...
, Nokia 6680
Nokia 6680
The Nokia 6680 is a 3G handset by Nokia, running Symbian operating system, with Series 60 version 2 user interface. The device features Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel fixed focus camera, front VGA video call camera, hot swappable Dual Voltage Reduced Size MMC memory expansion card support, stereo...
, Nokia 6681 and the Nokia N70
Nokia N70
The Nokia N70 is a multimedia 3G smartphone made by Nokia and launched in Q3 2005. This phone is one of the first phones released for Nokia's line of Multimedia computers, the Nokia Nseries. Nokia N70 is released alongside with Nokia N90 and Nokia N91....
. There were reports for other models include the Nokia E60
Nokia E60
The Nokia E60 is a traditional candybar style smartphone from the Eseries business phone range, a S60 platform third edition device.- Key Features :* Symbian OS v9.1, Series 60 3rd Edition* 64 MB internal memory* WLAN with SIP compliant VoIP client...
, Nokia E65
Nokia E65
The Nokia E65 is a smartphone in the Eseries range, a S60 platform third edition device with slide action. It shared many of the features of the N95 released around the same time, but thinner, lighter and without the GPS....
, Nokia E70
Nokia E70
The Nokia E70 is a candybar/fold keyboard type smartphone from the Eseries range, announced in October 2005 and released in May 2006 at a cost of approximately $500 with prices in July 2007 around $345...
, Nokia N71
Nokia N71
The Nokia N71 is a multimedia 3G clamshell smartphone by Nokia with a 2 megapixel camera, a built-in flash, a front camera to allow real-time video calling, FM radio, Bluetooth, digital music player functionality, comes standard with a full , and has support for 3D Java games.Other features...
, Nokia N90
Nokia N90
The Nokia N90 multimedia is a smartphone with two displays and Carl Zeiss optics . It has a 2 megapixel built-in digital camera with autofocus, 20× digital zoom, integrated flash, macro mode and the ability to record high quality video . The phone has no vibration feature...
, Nokia N91
Nokia N91
The Nokia N91 is a mobile phone that was released to the public in April of 2006. It is part of the Nokia Nseries range of mobile phones. At the time of release, it was the most advanced music phone ever launched by nokia. N91 also won the 'Most Innovative Product' award in recognition of its true...
, Nokia N93
Nokia N93
The Nokia N93 is a smartphone by Nokia especially designed for multimedia use. It was introduced in April 2006 and released in July 2006.The N93 has improved camera capabilities compared with the earlier N90. The phone has a 3.2 megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss optics and 3x optical zoom as well as a...
, but was deemed to be fake, since the unlocker only supports older BB5 models. This is easily done by the end-user through the phone's Pop-port
Pop-Port
The Pop-Port interface is a discontinued plug-in port, available with many Nokia mobile phones. The port consists of one metal pin on either end, and a plastic tab containing thirteen contacts.-Functions:...
connecting a legacy FBus
FBus
Fbus is an ANSI/IEEE data bus oriented towards backplanes and cell phones. The standard specifies a way for various pieces of electronic hardware to communicate, typically with one piece acting as master , and another acting as a slave...
compatible cable such as DKU-5, to a computer running his unlocking software package. Since then, commercial unlocking solutions have been offered by some others along with successful claims on some newer Nokia BB5 phones as well.
In July 2007, Kaljevic released the instructions and schematics to build a hardware solution for unlocking the Nokia N95
Nokia N95
The Nokia N95 is a smartphone produced by Nokia as part of their Nseries line of portable devices. It was released in 2007. The N95 runs Symbian OS v9.2, with a S60 3rd Edition user interface. The phone has a two-way sliding mechanism, which can be used to access either media playback buttons or...
. It was based on a CPLD logic IC and worked by manipulating CPU instructions on-the-fly, fooling the phone that a wrong unlock code was accepted like a correct one. However, it is not designed for end-users, since it requires more advanced knowledge in electronics and soldering skills to accomplish.
In August 2008, Kaljevic released a full unlock box for newer BB5 handsets that doesn't require any soldering.