Where to find unlocked WWAN Gobi 2000 for new vaio Z

I will soon receive new vaio Z from Japan. As some of you know WWAN modem in Japan is locked to NNT Docomo. Japanese model has sim card slot but it's currently impossible to unlock Gobi 2000 card. In Europe vaio Z comes with same card unlocked.

On ebay you can buy unlocked Gobi 2000 puled from HP,Lenova or Acer. I wonder if those card will work in Sony laptops. Where can I buy unlocked Gobi 2000 that will work with sony laptops?

Also if somebody is interested here is the link with some photos showing how to replace WWAN card in new Z:

http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=258&t=1457882&last=18024497

Seams like it's piece of cake

 

i think people are looking into it,someone post the process of change the unlocked gobi pictures

 

I guess you can buy it from store that sells sony vaio parts since this WWAN modem is now in all new vaio laptops. I wonder if somebody know online store that sells parts for vaio laptops.

Also users of Vaio X from Japan mast have some experience with this already.

This modem is brilliant. It seems that the Gobi chipset runs embedded Linux on an ARM processor, and the firmware files are simply executable programs. Problem with this is that internal firmware used by modem to load firmware files can for example also check signature of firmware images.

In other words since firmware files coming with drivers can be signed by sony it's possible that acer GOBI card will not work with sony drivers.

 

I found web site that sell spare parts for sony and also ship worldwide:

http://www.sparepartswarehouse.com/

Of course they still don't have gobi 2000 for new vaio Z but they have for example Gobi 2000 for vaio X. Probably card in vaio X is same like one in new vaio Z.

 

Anyone try the VAIO X unlocked gobi 2000 in the Z yet?

 

I asked guys from Spare parts warehouse but they dont have it. So I decided to order one from eBay. When I get modem and Z I will take the photos of WWAN replacemnet process. I ordered CTO from Japan so it shoud be strate forward process since Japanese version has SIM card slot.

 

have you tried dc unlockers to get it unlocked - replacing it seems a bit extreme.

even if they dont have a fix on site, its worth asking them - when i bought my first z the gobi wwan was locked, i emailed them, they worked on it and managed to get it unlocked.

 

DC Unlocker doesn't have solution for GOBI 2000 for quite some time, people already asked for it on this thread: http://www.dc-unlocker.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1141

Trust me if there was another way I wouldn't spend $200 for the GOBI card. Seems like guy that is selling it on ebay will also sand all drivers and SDK for it so I will send that software to DC Unlocker in case it can help them find solution.

 

for that price, just get the expresscard models that get a better range: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ARUrtcFa0E&playnext_from=TL&videos=aAaBRmfCF6U

 

Thanks for advice, but if I wanted external solution I would rather go with usb dongle then to use-up expresscard slot for 3g modem. I can also just use my cell phone, but having built in 3g modem is just so convenient, especially if you use it often.

 

i know the feeling if you want to use it right out of the box, but cracking your z open is a big thing as they never go back together as well as they were first built. id w wait for the unlock and use express as a short term fix. whilst dc unlocker might say no solution 'for some time' that could be tomorrow - you can bet they are working on it. thats their business

 

This new Z is much easier to open then old one, and also components are easier to access and replace. All you need to do is to remove couple of screws and keyboard part will just slide off, no hidden traps . You can easily open it and put it back together without warranty void.

Here is the link showing how to do it : http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=258&t=1457882&last=18024497

If dc unlocker find solution I will just put back card that come with Z and sell one I bought.