I got home this evening to find a lovely Orange Monte Carlo review unit waiting for me, courtesy of the one and only Conor from Orange. I’m hoping to have a review up by Monday but I wanted to give readers the chance to ask any questions they may have about this eagerly awaited handset.
Please post any questions in the comments and I will do my best to answer everything either in the review or directly in the comments. Unfortunately I won’t be rooting it or flashing any custom firmware so if you’re more interesting in it’s modding potential you may be better off trying XDA or Modaco.
Having a San Francisco, I’m curious about the screen, is it as bright/vivid as the excellent screens on the v1 SF models (which were OLED I believe)?
Check out skate.modaco.com for a quick review, a rooting guide, and a custom ROM.
There are also photos of the MonteCarlo (MC) next to the Desire and San Francisco.
From what Ive been reading these is no way to unlock this phone yet. Its seems Orange/ZTE have been a bit trickier this time with the unlock codes.
Hi,
I’d love to see how it is for watching movies from the sd card please?
Thanks,
Martin
I tried a .m4v encoded at Retina resolution and the result was stuttery. Almost like a slideshow. Quite disappointing. I used rockplayer and the hardware decoding option didn’t work.
Thanks for trying, what a dissapointment indeed 🙁
Looking forward to the review… A few Simple Questions…
1- Full Android Market Access ?
2- Full Flash Support ?
3- Full Google Maps, Earth & Skymap Functionality ?
4- Full Push Email ( Free ) ?
5- Video Record Max Resolution ?
6- Do Orange offer the’re £30 Discount & No £10 Top-up if you buy it “In Store” if you’re a current Orange customer ?
1 -Yes
2 – No. The CPU cant do it.
3 – No. The CPU cant do it. Just Maps.
4 – Yes
5 – ?
6 – I dont believe there is a £30 discount. But yes, no top up to pay.
i just got mt hand on zte skate phone but unfortunatly is locked to orange network , is there any way i can unlock it.
thanks
lucky
Does any one know the unlock code
I have bought the monte carlo, for the most part I am pleased, however when making calls (occasionally) the screen goes blank and appears to shut off & no matter what I do(except taking the back off & removing the battery), I can not get the screen back on, so can not end the call, place it on speaker phone or use the key pad, extreamly frustrating when you are trying to access voicemail, has anyone else had this issue or got any suggestions how to solve the problem?
I have this problem too, everytime I call someone I can’t use the screen or end the call. Dunno how to resolve this either – so annoying :-/
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!…..I’m having the same trouble too!!!….i’ve only ever had payg phones and thought i’d treat myself for a change and get me the latest gadget….BIG MISTAKE!!! I just rung my sons phone and it went to answerphone…..i couldn’t turn my Monte Carlo off, because of the blank screen and it turning off, and ended up leaving an unnecessary 5 minute answerphone message which has now taken my calltime!!!…….really peeved now!….only had the damn thing 3 days!!!
i have the same problem with the screen going blank and having to take the battery out. orange sent us a replacement phone, but it does the same thing. am just going to ring thrm to complain again.
Hi Fiona. The fix is this:
“Try this – type this into dialer – *983*0#. Go to sensors and while not covering the sensor click calibrate.”
This cured the issue for me. No need to send the phone anywhere.
Neil.
I had the problem as well. “983”0# seems to have done the trick. thanks!
Seems to have done the trick for me too, Thanks. (“,)
Sorted it for me as well, thanks a lot. Good phone bar that little annoyance!
Thanks alot Neil, I have taken the phone back twice, now no need 😀
Thanks, worked for me as well***
Thanks worked for me too
Thank you very much Neil.. This has been very annoying and the fix worked for me!! Hopefully I will not see this again.. Fingers croseed
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!…..I’m having the same trouble too!!!….i just rung my sons phone and it went to answerphone…..i couldn’t turn my Monte Carlo off because of the blank screen and ended up leaving a 5 minute answerphone message which has now taken my calltime!!!…….really peeved now!….only had the damn thing 3 days!!!
same thing happens to me :/
I found a quick fix for when it gets stuck on the black screen. Why this works I do not know… Lick the sensor. If you don’t know where the sensor is, its nets to the speaker you hold to your ear when you make a call
I can only assume its because my tongue blocks off all the light and then when the light goes back it changes from being blank, but using my hand has never worked.
At least it will let you hand up though.
How strong is the vibrate? I need to have my phone on silent, and had to get rid of the Sony Arc – terrible vibrate – missing far too many calls.
Hi All,
I just wanted to know if anybody had this problem i’m experencing when making a call, here goes.
when I select my home number for example to dail, the screen then goes off and starts dailing. At this point during the conversation I canr’t accsess the phones menu. If the call then went into the answering machine I then have to wait untill the answering machine kicks me out because I carn’t cancel anything. the only way to cancel quickly is to pull the battery out.
Any adivice is welcomed.
Jas Singh
Hi All,
I was so worried that I did not read further down the page.
This fix Neil Has give also worked for me at the mo.
I will test this out and be back in a few days.
Thanks Mate 😉
Can anyone tell me how to unlock my Monte Carlo so I can use it when in New Zealand for 3-4 mths then go back to Orange when back here in UK. I won’t be here for 3 months. Cheers, Chris.
I have set up email using the built in system however I can’t send using BTinternet OR Google – my work one is fine (goes via an interchange) – can’t access the settings to check them as all automatic (which was great compared to days trying to set up Iphone4) Get loads of emails in but nobody can get an answer – Please help
How do you set individual contact ringtones?
can the screen rotate for example if u turn the phone around while texting will the keyboard rotate too?
Does anyone know how to forward on a received text to another contact on the orange Monte carlos?
How do I switch the answerphone off permanently? It sometimes takes me a while to answer the phone and it keeps going to answerphone before I get the chance to answer it. I thought I’d found the place to do it but it says ‘Your operator does not allow this’ (disabling) – very frustrating.
how do u reset the calibration for the screeen
Hi, I think my post may help,
Geoff.
my monte carlo just truning off how to stop thank
my credit is dissapearing even when i havent used the phone?? Any ideas?? And no, no one else has used it.
Have you got your 3G turned on? Because this happens quite alot with many people, Even though your not using the internet, other apps will still be collecting data.
how do you turn your 3G on or off? Do you want it on or off? I dont understand which one will stop you from losing your credit/mobile internet?
it turns on but it wont go to the home screen it just keeps redoing the orange screen and the fireworks HELP
it turns on but it wont go to the home screen it just keeps redoing the orange screen and the fireworks HELP
Hi jessica, i was just wondering if you have managed to solve the problem with your fone as my partners fone has just started to do the same thing, where it will not go past the fireworks. If you could give us any advice that would be great. Thank you.
Hi jessica, i was just wondering if you have managed to solve the problem with your fone as my partners fone has just started to do the same thing, where it will not go past the fireworks. If you could give us any advice that would be great. Thank you.
I have to remove and replace the battery before my Monte Carlo phone boots up, is there any fix regards Davro
I have to remove and replace the battery before my Monte Carlo phone boots up, is there any fix regards Davro
my phone wont turn on to the home screen it just keeps going through the orange sign then the firework display thing!!! help pleas!
mines doing exactly the same thing its ridicoulous i dont have a clue what to do :S
i have the same problem as you guys can you please tell me how you resolved the problem as it has been over a month of your post , thanxs
I bought this handset for the big screen it is a really nice phone but the bluetooth does not work which is very sad because I need it for handsfree driving, I have tried it with lots of bluetooth tablets , computers, car and other orange mobile phones and all I get is paired but not connected. I took it back to the Orange Shop and they tried on another mobile phone and got the same as me paired but not connected. They suggested I should contact the Orange Technical team on 450. They tried pairing the Monte Carlo with a Blackberry and got the same as me (paired but not connected) they took my home phone number and said they would phone me back the next evening which they never did, after a few days I phoned them again several times because I kept getting disconnected, eventually I got through to them and they sent me a new phone, this did not work either. I contacted them again and they said the would send another Monte carlo only this time it was a refurbished mobile phone because it was company policy after 14 days thats what they did, that did not work either. I contacted the customer services again and they sent a fourth Monte Carlo mobile (Refurbished) that did not work either so after a period of 3 weeks I have been reduced to a second hand phone that does not work either. Their technical team and customer service is useless. Vince
Hi Vincent
Try using it via sat nav if u have bluetooth on it mine work through it mine did not worked in car audio system
i dial a number put the phone towards my ear and when i am finished i pull the phone wanting very much to press the end call button but nothing appears on my screen its only on calls that i am having a problem with my screen.
like the rest of the world wrote first read second thanks neil “Try this – type this into dialer – *983*0#. Go to sensors and while not covering the sensor click calibrate.” worked many thanks
Tried to pair it using bluetooth with Nexus Pro drive but it can’t find it. Any idead
Tried to pair it using bluetooth with Nexus Pro drive but it can’t find it. Any idead
the issue of black screen when
calling
the issue of black screen when
calling
i am trying to add contacts to my monte carlo but they are loading up twice when i switch the phone off then back on , can anybody suggest what i may be doing wrong .
i am trying to add contacts to my monte carlo but they are loading up twice when i switch the phone off then back on , can anybody suggest what i may be doing wrong .
I need to switch off voicemail on my monte carlo, does anybody know how it’s done ?
I need to switch off voicemail on my monte carlo, does anybody know how it’s done ?
My Monte Carlo phone wont go to the main screen after i have turned it on, it just stays on the orange sign then it goes off and turns back to the orange screen again, how can i fix it??
i got the same problem has your phone fixed yet
Easy fix:
1) Download Orange Monte Carlo “reboot-recovery.bat” here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18839428/ADB%20%26%20FASTBOOT.rar
2) Extract the .rar
3) Plug your phone into PC via USB
4) Double-click “reboot-recovery.bat”
5) Your phone will now reboot into recovery mode
6) Select: factory reset (<–you make the selections with your volume key)
7) Your phone will now reboot
Your phone will now be as good as new. You will of course need to re-download your apps and you will have lost your settings/customizations etc.
Good luck.
Thank You
still wont work it just say device not found in my computer
thanks now working
this doenst even work infact made my phone worse thanks.
My Monte Carlo phone wont go to the main screen after i have turned it on, it just stays on the orange sign then it goes off and turns back to the orange screen again, how can i fix it??
I have the ZTE Skate which came sim free from the manufacturer. I use it on PAYG and to date it does everything it say’s on the tin and I am delighted with it, no problems with black screens etc……However…..my wife bought the same phone labelled as the Orange Monte Carlo and it has suffered with the black screen problem from day one. Here’s the fix from Neil.
type this into dialer – *983*0#. Go to sensors and while not covering the sensor, click calibrate.”.Neil.As this is my wife and I’s first smartphone I wasn’t sure where to find the ‘sensor’ until I realised you have to press the dialler as if making a call and that brings up the page where you see ‘sensor’s, click calibrate and you are done. BTW..you haven’t actually made a call to anyone so there isn’t a charge. Thought I would mention that for those of you who are ‘new’ to the smartphone.For those who have called a number and immediately got a black screen and you cannot end the call go to ‘Settings’ then ‘Accessibility’ and when the screen asks you to download a screen reader press the back button and this takes you to the power button, tick power button ends call and this will enable you to end a call merely by pressing the power button if the screen is blank.Geoff.
re calibrating the sensors worked great for me, my monte carlo was also sticking on the black screen while making calls, but now seems fine.
I have also found that my phone failed its proximity sensor test while i had a protective case on it. I have removed the case recalibrated and now everything seems fine.
thanks
thank you genius:)
cheers for the help x
thanks thats sorted mine ! easy when you know how youve saved me a fortune
Monte Carlo Bluetooth audio stopped working properly: My phone was coupled OK with a full built-in hands-free car kit and working fine. It still couples ok but the audio is now only coming from the handset and not the hands-free speakers. I’ve deleted devices and re-coupled initiated from both phone and car end but no change. I’ve also just done a full factory reset on the phone and it still behaves the same.
Anyone got any ideas?
Hi Mike
I had that problem where it wasn’t hands free though the car audio systemin the end i tried using via a sat nav and it comes though the speakers so it then hands free
my monte carlo is stuck on the orange logo and is going back to fireworks i need HELP
Mafferz you are a life saver and a super star. thanks.
Hi
To get around the black caller screen, go to settings-accessibility-install screen reader (aka. Talkback), then when downloaded a notification should come up on your Monte Carlo 1 about Talkback prefrences, install it and when installed, open the accessibility prefrences app and click on Talkback and than whatever you want to do
I just done this on my OMC 1 and it fixed the problem
i have a monte carlo but i need a new sceen were wud i get 1
ok so my wifi has stopped working which is quite random. i have had my monte carlo for a few months now and haven’t experienced any problems with the wifi however today when i woke up my battery was dead therefore it was switched off this happened in the evening too between this time my wifi was working perfectly but it doesn’t seem to be working now!! im really frustrated i’ve tried everything from re entering the password of the wifi address to switching my phone off. i am h=goin to wait for a while as it only happened an hour or so ago. i would really appreciate it if you know how to solve it. thank you
I have the ZTE Skate which came sim free from the manufacturer. I use it on PAYG and to date it does everything it say’s on the tin and I am delighted with it However I cannot receive a picture message unless I go to a certain website to download it . Surely it should come straight to my phone………I am using the sim card from my old phone and the pictures came through ok until now, is there a setting I need to activate and where do I find it …..maybe I should contact Virgin, any suggestions please
my phone won’t turn on it shows the ornage sign then tries to start up then shows the orange sign again , what should i do ?
To fix this you need to hold down the Home key, the Volume UP and the power until you get to a screen entitle android recovery. when here using your volume keys to navigate select factory reset. then you will ask you if you are sure and you should select yes. Then select reboot phone. This will delete all of your data on the phone including contacts, apps etc but your phone should now be working properly.
This dose not work
doesnt work at all !!!!
My daughters phone did the same and we tried the fixes on here but they didn’t work. I took it to a local mobile shop who identified that the chip needed replaced which can happen after the phone is dropped. It cost £15 and is perfect.
i can’t turn on my monte carlo phone because, i tried to unlock it online. please what do i do.
I live in the U.K. Will I be able to take this phone to Canada when I move there?
If i go onto facebook or twitter or any apps that use the internet when i am not in a wifi spot, it uses my mobile internet which i get 100mbs of a month, but after using these apps i close them but it still takes my internet off sometimes. Is there any way i can turn the apps off or stop them so that i keep my internet?
Got my Skate New. Dust has enter the screen in less than two weeks.How to remove it?.
How do you choose the place to store software or photos ie the camera or sd card
can u help me plz i have done a factory reset on my phone as my hubby wanted it and he is trying to reset it up but his contacts are not showin
THE PHONE IS RUBBISH MINE WILL NOT TURN ON
my phone has the same problem
mine has just recently done the same ;/ it wont even turn on so annoyed!
i wish i had never bought the phone a year ago i have had to have 2 replacement phones since this and now my current one has broke last 2 have broke over not turning on just bringing up the orange sign !!!!!! shit phone
when i dial any call the display suddenly disappear…. plz help me and tell me solution
this happenes to me aswell, does it lock itself?
Hello,
When I make a call the person on the other end can hardly hear me, any ideas please.
talk louder?
Always a fool/
Hey i bought the phone like 3 months ago and since last week when the battery died on me and i recharged it it won’t go past the orange simbul, any ideas plz. i am litteraly dead with out my Monte
i have the same problem, but my phone is the san francisco 2. Have you managed to sort it out yet
i think it is just a mechanical problem with the phone no solution if you have warrenty then ring customer services they will send u a new phone next day free
Hi hoe do you get voicemail when I connect my screen goes blank and I can’t press numbers to retrieve. can switch off call now by following guidance below but can’t get voice mail please help thanks.
hi why is it when i make a call the screen goes black and wont come back on i tried to ring a number where i needed to press a number and i couldnt do it as the screen was blank thanks
Hi, please see my second comment further down the page…….this should fix the problem
My Monte Carlo does exactly the same, have you found a solution yet
theres an app on the market for this problem “monte carlo screen calibrater ” open it and thn u just recalibrate your screen
i am trying to set a song as my ringtone but when someone rings me it doesn’t come up it is silent and vibrates only. I have checked and double checked what is ticked/not ticked. Any tips
to set your ringtone u have to not be in silent mode
i keep seeing people who are able to take screenshots on their phones, a bit like the Iphone. i was just wondering if its possible to do this on the monte carlo phone?
my screen won’t auto rotate anymore! the box is till checked. what can i try? thanks x
my phone won’t turn on, would it work if i reset it?
my monte carlo comes on to the orange flashing but then does nt come on
actually so annoyed right now!
my phone has switched itself of and now it wont turn back on. its been doing the loading sign for about an hour and nothing is even wrong with the phone. had it since christmas 2011. its going back! worst investment ever!
hi i have the monte carlo
and i keep getting this error
the process andriod, process. media has stopped unexpectedly. please try again,,, force close
i get it a lot and have even done a factory reset but still get this error can any one help me on this please,its driving me mad here,
even if i try to send a pic im getting the error aswell.
pep
The auto rotate screen will not work on my Monte Carlo even though it is highlighted can you help
Thanks sajanp
This helped alot my phone is working now
how do i get my phone screen replaced as it is cracked? how much would it cost?
my orange monte carlo wont start up, it comes up to the orange sign and stays on it and goes on and on again. what can i do? tried what it says here but nothing comes up
if you have had the phone under 6 months ring customer services and demand a new phone they send you one next day free of charge ….. i know because i have had the same problem i just keep asking for a new phone
i dont know where my previous post disappeared. I got replaced once my phone for same problem, now i am not in the country, but installing software upgrade online tool from here helped me – just did it this morning after I wasnt able to turn it on..
http://www.zteuk.co.uk/device/201204/t20120417_12410.html (its in product support)
hi , i have set up my email account on my monte carlo but my emails are not showing up ,,,,only thing coming up is ,,,load more messages
ps it worked fine yesterday ,,
how do i download my videos off my monte carlo phone…do i need a cable or can i do it via blue tooth
My phone is water damaged and the lights turn on but the screen stays blank, is it possible to fix?
Whenever i go to open up the messages it says ‘ could not launch the requested activity’??? I can’t text at all!!!! 🙁
after i lock the sceen on my phone the colour seems to fade, but after reboot the screen is fine until i lock the screen aain?
does anyone else have a problem when your phoning someone and the phone screen goes dark and doesn’t come back on unless the other person hangs up or you take the battery out
hi, i just got a new monte carlo and the problem is, i don´t have a plan that includes internet, so i just try to connect to wi-fi. BUT, when i check my bill, i find 40 euros in data. i tried all kinds of stuff to get rid of my mobile internet or whatever the hell it´s called, and it still charges me.
could i get some help with this please?
thank you
also mein monte carlo ist definitiv kaputt ich habe es einmal ausgeschalten und jec wenn ich es wieder einschalte funktionierts bis das bild von orange erscheint dann bleibt es stecken irgendwie .. können sie mir bitte weiter helfen wäre sehhhhhhrr nnettt . 🙂
OMG this phones rubbish!!!
can someone help me! i’ve paid £129 for this monte carlo shit and it wont even work; keeps telling me i need storage space when i dont have any apps! Orange sort this out for me please im begging you im down on my knees and it hurts. ALSO orange my phone doesnt turn on sometime and all that comes up is the ‘orange sign’ and then goes off and back on to the ‘orange sign’ again what is this nonsense tell me!
ORANGE! Why are you doing this to me?! i’ve got a Monte Carlo phone and its not turning on? HELP!!!!What do i do? Any tips? If NOT I WANT A BLOODY REFUND!
might sound stupid but i have no idea how to send things via bluetooth on this device
when i save my contacts they dont appear,not even in the directory
my phone wont let me send messages or text
Sajnap, I tried your method and it does not work please please can you tell me how to fix my phone the otange sign shows then the fireworks but then it repeats itself PLEASE help
me!!!!
My phone alarm has stopped making a noise and no longer get an alert when a text comes through or when i get a call, the volumn ringer is on full, i have turned the phone off and on and still the same, j
Can someone please help me and tell me how to update my Orange Monte Carlo? would be a massive help!
when i turn on my phone the screen turns dark blue
but my phone still respond to me
Hello i have a big problem my monte carlo works fine but since today the display is allways off. there is no vibration when turn on but the red light is on. please help me. thx
I have the orange monte carlo phone and I have had no problems at all with it since March 2012 until now. when I speak to people on the phone, they cant understand what I am saying. apparently I sound like a DALEK from Dr Who!!!lol. any ideas???
Hello i have a monte carlo phone i switch it on and all it shows is the little green anroid man. Can anyone help? Is my phone broke?
my phone can not save phone numbers, I show that the android are stop,I can not get on google
i’ve forgotten my pin code what do i do 🙁 ?
My monte Carlo phone will not let me press on anything when i go to voice mail screen goes black and no keypad comes up have to take battery out help please