Note this is a BETA version and will have issues.

About
WMLongLife is an automatic 2G/3G band-switching solution. It will keep your device in 2G when you do not need to use 3G, and will switch to 3G automatically when you do need it. For most users, having your device in 2G uses much less battery, and thus your phone lasts longer on a single charge. 2G also usually generates less radiation than 3G, so it will likely be better for your gonads (if you have them) as well (see this thread for a discussion about that) - think of your hypothetical future children!

Main features

• 2G/3G (auto)/3G (only) automatic band switching based on:
  - Running programs and their needs
  - Availability of Wi-Fi
  - Availability of USB
  - Roaming [note: most roaming options have been removed, use the RoamFreely (marketplace) tool instead]
• Idle data connections disconnect based on running programs (note that unlike the registry tweak this does not break simultaneous voice/data)
• Manual band switching
• Automatically disable data when roaming (including AGPS)
• Pauses applications while switching bands (so you don't get networking errors)
• Several predefined applications supported
• Support for HTC/MSM72xx GSM devices (GSM/EDGE vs UMTS/HSDPA)
• Support for HTC/MSM75xx CDMA devices (1xRTT vs EV-DO)
• Support for various Samsung GSM devices (GSM/EDGE vs UMTS/HSDPA)

• HTC Touch Cruise
• HTC TyTN II
• HTC Touch Diamond GSM + CDMA
• HTC Touch Pro GSM + CDMA
• HTC Touch HD
• HTC Touch Diamond II GSM + CDMA
• HTC Touch Pro II GSM + CDMA
• HTC HD2
• Samsung i780
• Samsung Omnia GSM
• Samsung Omnia II GSM
• Samsung Giorgio Armani II
• Sony Ericsson Xperia X1
• Palm Treo Pro

• HTC Titan/Mogul
• HTC Vogue
• HTC Touch 3G
• HTC Touch Cruise II
• HTC MAX 4G
• Samsung Epix
• Toshiba TG-01 ??

The Manual
NOTICE: The manual is written for version 0.5 and newer!


Usage notes
I have done my best to let WMLongLife be as least annoying as possible. The idea is (with the default settings) that a band-switch should occur only once in a phone 'session'. Where by a session I mean a screen-on / use device / screen-off cycle. This also means WMLongLife may not switch back to 2G when you expect it to - WMLongLife tries to be smart about things to reduce the number of band-switches but still keep a fairly optimal 2G/power use. Please keep in mind this is a beta release.


Things you should know
WMLongLife generally does not kick-in until you have both entered your PIN (if applicable) at boot, and the screen has been off for about half a minute. There are exceptions to this rule - if you override the current band selected by using the Band Switcher app, WMLongLife will start operating from then on.

When band-switching, the icon in the top bar may stay on 2G (G, E, 1X, etc) for a while before it switches to a 3G icon. This does not mean you are not already using 3G, there is a delay in this display.


Issues
Known issues are listed in the post below this one.


Installation
Installation is easy:

• Copy the WMLongLife.cab file to your device and open it to install it.
• Go into WMLongLife configuration and make sure to check/configure the following options:
  - Radio / Radio chip model (and GSM band for Samsung radios)
  - Radio / Restart push mail after band switch
  - Roaming - All options
  These are likely to be detected and set correctly, however I advise you check them anyways. Details about these options can be found in the configuration section below.
• Optional: Go to Start -> Settings -> Personal -> Buttons, and assign a button to the Band Switcher application
• Soft-reset

Data / Disallow background connections
When this option is enabled, WMLongLife will deny access to applications creating so called "background" connections, and only allow "interactive" connections. When an application connects to the internet, it tells Connection Manager some specifics. Only interactive applications like browsers / YouTube / etc should create "interactive" connections, while other application that need something from the internet but which you did not manually initiate should create "background" connections. Obviously this setting only has an effect on applications that set this information correctly. If you have connection notifications turned on, "interactive" connections are the ones that pop-up a "Connecting to ..." bubble - "background" connections do not do this.

Roaming / Disable cellular data connections when roaming [no longer available in 0.65, use RoamFreely instead]
This option allows you to configure which data connections you want to disable when you are roaming.

Roaming / Switch to 2G when roaming
When this option is enabled, WMLongLife will switch to 2G when you are roaming.

Roaming / Treat 2G as roaming [no longer available in 0.65, use RoamFreely instead]
When this option is enabled, WMLongLife will treat a 2G signal as if you are roaming. Obviously, when using this option, you should disable all other options that may make the device switch to 2G - if you don't, this will result in WMLongLife always thinking you are roaming.

Roaming / Turn off AGPS when roaming [no longer available in 0.65, use RoamFreely instead]
This option should only be enabled if you actually use AGPS. This should be auto detected upon first installation, however this detection does not always work correctly. If you do not use AGPS, make sure this option is turned off. If you do not use AGPS but this option is enabled, WMLongLife will also enable AGPS when you are not roaming. If your AGPS is not properly configured, this may slow down normal GPS operation.

Configuration - Application specific
WMLongLife comes preconfigured with optimal settings for various common applications. However, should you use an application that is not listed here, WMLongLife will automatically pop-up a configuration box when that application tries to use the internet. It is not possible to manually add or remove applications from the application list - and this is completely unnecessary!

The application specific configuration screen shows the list of configured applications, and icons to show their currently configured options. When you click an application in the list, the application configuration screen will popup.

There are five options in this popup: 3G, Screen/Off, Wi-Fi and USB.

3G
This option decides whether or not WMLongLife should give 3G to this application. If the 3G option is not enabled, all the other options are not relevant.

Screen/Off
This option decides whether or not WMLongLife should give 3G to this application, even if the screen is turned off. Most applications do not need this - pretty much the only exceptions are tethering applications.

Wi-Fi
This option lets WMLongLife know if this application can use Wi-Fi instead of 3G for its internet connection. Most applications can, however obvious exceptions are (again) tethering applications.

USB
This option lets WMLongLife know if this application can use USB instead of 3G for its internet connection. Most applications can, however obvious exceptions are (again) tethering applications.

Background time-out
This option configures how long WMLongLife will treat an application as "running" if it has not been actually visible on your screen. This only applies to applications that do not actually close when you press the "X" button. If an application is truly closed, WMLongLife will immediately treat it as "not running". However, applications like for example the Opera browser will always remain running in the background, whether you are using them or not, these will be treated as "not running" when they have not been "seen" for the length of time the background time-out is configured.

Most applications should be fine with a setting of 5 minutes or less. Applications that continue to use the data connection (like tethering applications) should have the time-out disabled.

----

To-do & Issues

• [bug] Sometimes WMLL will not switch when device is booted in 2G *not reproducable so far*
• [bug] Allow ConnMgr connections not directed at cellular networks while switching
• [bug] Some device/rom combo's drain battery with WMLL... unattended mode issue? *not reproducable so far*
• [improvement] Rethink "screen on --> 3G" strategies to be less annoying... perhaps detect user opening the dialer?
• [improvement] Improve switching on Samsung devices and auto mode 2g/3g priority
• [feature] Auto switch to 3G (auto) if no signal can be found in 2G or 3G (only) modes
• [feature/maybe] Make smaller 'switching bands' notification
• [feature/maybe] Add option to let the user select band on specific application launch (maybe also Wi-Fi ?)
• [feature/maybe] Add option to let the user deny internet access completely to specific applications
• [skin] Finish/update missing gfx target: 0.70
• [skin] Skin BandSwitcher app target: 0.70

• [feature/maybe] Add option to allow background connections only on 3G etc [fixed bug, added option] PLEASE RECONFIGURE THE "DISALLOW BACKGROUND CONNECTIONS" OPTION !
• [feature] Timebomb removed

• [bug] Find/fix unattended mode sometimes not working [fixed ?]
• [bug] Something is broken with the idle data disconnect [fixed ?]
• [improvement] Minor algorithm changes
• [improvement] Minor settings handling changes
• [improvement] Made vibrations a bit longer, as on some devices they were not noticable
• [improvement] Improve push mail restart (now sometimes pops up ActiveSync) [implemented]
• [removal] Most roaming functions have moved to my RoamFreely app. Details about how and why can be found in the 0.65 release notes
• [addition] A simple API has been added

• Experimental HD2 changes

• [feature] Added option to immediately start an internet connection after switching to 3G
• [feature] Added vibrating notifications
• [feature] Added option to disallow "background connections"

• Config and AppConfig now much faster (usable now )
• Added several preconfigured applications, including some who are not configurable through the Config app to prevent issues
• Improved IPC
• Added friendly descriptions for the preconfigured apps
• Modified loading pattern
• Fixed screen-on/3g-switch/call-drop issue
• Improved skin compression (+- 50%)
• [bug] After user band override, treat as screen has been off (no more waiting)
• [bug] Find/fix issue with sometimes not loading
• [bug] Improve connected-to-network detection
• [bug] Find/fix configuration lost issue (hopefully)
• [bug] Wi-Fi on -> Opera (stays in 2G) -> close Opera -> Wi-Fi off -> 3G - should stay in 2G (hopefully)
• [feature] Implement Omnia II compatibility
• [feature] Add option to not show OSD notifications
• [feature] Implement roaming options
• [feature] Added support for disabling AGPS while roaming
• [feature] Added support for Samsung's "uber-fast" band switching (can still be improved)
• [feature] Add current status to config app
• [skin] Select-popup-box skinned
• [skin] Program-state-icons skinned
• [skin] Added (temporary) program icons
• [skin] Implement (W)QVGA skin

• Added support for Samsung Omnia
• Addes support for MSM75xx (HTC CDMA) devices
• Added several preconfigured applications
• Turned WMLongLife into a service
• Created separate configuration app
• Created separate application-specific configuration app
• Application-specific configuration app pops up on new unknown connection
• Applications are now 'paused' when the band switch is made
• Added various configuration options
• Added BandSwitcher application
• Added code to cope with Wi-Fi and USB connections
• Many adjustments to application detection and handling
• Usable full-time

I added a really small and simple API as it has been requested by several people.

The DLL file is WMLongLifeAPI.dll and is installed in your \Windows. Use LoadLibrary and GetProcAddress to get at the functions.

Here are the function definitions:

DWORD WMLL_APIVersion();

BOOL WMLL_IsRunning();

#define BAND_SWITCH_WMLL 0
#define BAND_SWITCH_2G 1
#define BAND_SWITCH_3G_AUTO 2
#define BAND_SWITCH_3G_FORCE 3
VOID WMLL_BandSwitch(DWORD band);

VOID WMLL_DataDisconnect();

VOID WMLL_ReloadSettings();

DWORD WMLL_APIVersion();

Returns the current API version. WMLongLife 0.65 returns 0x100 - or API version 1.00.

BOOL WMLL_IsRunning();

Returns whether or not WMLongLife is loaded and running. Note that WMLongLife can take up to a minute (sometimes longer) to activate itself.

VOID WMLL_BandSwitch(DWORD band);

Instructs WMLongLife to switch bands.

As band parameter use one of the BAND_SWITCH_* values listed above. BAND_SWITCH_WMLL returns control of band switching back to WMLongLife. Note that this may happen automatically when the screen goes off, this depends on WMLongLife configuration options.

VOID WMLL_DataDisconnect();

Instructs WMLongLife to disconnect all cellular data connections.

VOID WMLL_ReloadSettings();

Instructs WMLongLife to reload all settings from registry.

You are a genius and you are super witty to boot! Thanks, I will report bugs if I find any!

This is brilliant.. if only I had a MSM device..

i780 is also on the to-do list.. I just happen to have one lying here next to me

Sounds like something these MSM based 3G smartphones need (especially those for CDMA networks). I'll definitely test it and give you my feed back.

Originally Posted by Soul_Est  

Sounds like something these MSM based 3G smartphones need (especially those for CDMA networks). I'll definitely test it and give you my feed back.

Well as stated everywhere, this is only for GSM... there's no CDMA equivalent. (perhaps one day?)