[8525, TyTN, MDA Vario II, JasJam Software Upgradin] d0ch0liday:
These are the instructions I spent many hours looking for. Also, I know most people know, but just in case... Loading a ROM does wipe your device. Make sure you have all your info synced or backed up someplace.

- Doc

First, I Followed andykwg's instructions to the letter:

(here is his Post,but in case you dont want to go there, here are the instructions)

ANDYKWG:

Thanks POF, my 8525 is unlocked, but I have gone through hell with Vista so just to let you all know that "don't try these upgrades on VISTA".

I have read many posts and finally got it to unlock. In any case, here is what I did (on a XP box with activeSYNC 4.2 - it is running all the time for each of the steps below):

1) on XP, connect the phone to XP and make sure ActiveSync see the phone. Run the exe in 1.30 ROM for Cingular to download the SPL to 1.04. After this the phone will reboot/restart itself.

2a) On XP, with ActiveSync running and connected, run POF's MaUpgradeUt_noID.exe within the unlocker v2a xip file to upgrade the radio to version 1.16. If it fails with ERROR 114, go to step (3); else go to step (2b).

2b) If the first time failed, DON'T TOUCH THE PHONE. Run the exe again and the second time should run fine. There is a 114 error at the end and it is OK. Once you get the 114 error, soft-reset the phone before next step.

3) On the phone, flash with POF's unlocker (v2a) ON THE PHONE MEMORY HERM_Unlock_v2a.exe (in the zip file same as above download for unlock v2a). There is a success notice at the end.

That is it. Hope this help someone.

Andy

DocHoliday:

Now, what Andy Doesn't say here, and people have asked, is Yes, you are now unlocked and SuperCID.

Ok, I went a step further.

I loaded the South African 1.35 ROM. Why? Faster and about 15% more battery life to boot! There are a few things to consider before you go to SA 1.35. Your boot loader will now be SPL-1.09. Make sure your device is unlocked before you go to this ROM! If it is unlocked and SuperCID, it will remain unlocked and SuperCID after the ROM Update. If you installed the update before unlocking, I think you are out of luck. I have seen some threads that say you can change back to SPL-1.04, but nothing conclusive.

3 things you will notice after you load this ROM and how to fix them:

1. Keyboard Special Characters are out of Sync with the Keyboard (-, _, ;, :, etc...)

Most people said a registry entry fixed theirs, it did not for me. Here is what worked. Download this Extended ROM. Copy ShortString_Keypad_XML.CAB to your SD, then run it. Softboot, then Keyboard Special Characters are fixed!

2. Keyboard BackLight:

Disable the light sensor! With the SA ROM, the light sensor is too sensitive and doesnt work properly.To disable: Settings (on the 8525), Buttons, Backlight tab - Clear The Checkmark! Keyboard backlight now works when you press any key.

3. May not be a problem for some, but Phone skin is God Awful Lime Green! Yuck! (my opinion...)

Fix Phone Skin an download the skin of your choice...

Anyway, Hope this Helps someone. Took me a while to research and I wish I had my post when I first started. Many thanks to POF and the other contributors to XDA without which we would be limited to the ROM's the Carriers stuck us with! Good Luck all!