Blackberry Question...

M

martyp

Messages
1,332
Name
Marty
Edit My Images
Yes
Got a question for blackberry users/gurus.


I had a 3G PAYG SIM for the iPhone and have just bought a Blackberry. The SIM itself works fine and I can make and receive calls no problems.

Question is, how do I go about setting up the data service using the iPhone settings I have?

I'm not looking to get Blackberry e-mail but would like to receive my own personal account on it - if possible.


Thanks in advance. :thumbs:
 
I'm not sure about the iphone bit, but that's what blackberries do, it's only big firms that use the blackberry server system.
 
Not possible.. All data services on a blackberry have to go through RIM (the company who make blackberry devices). To do this you have to have the blackberry data plan enabled.

I know orange offer this very cheaply for their PAYG customers.

Without a blackberry data plan you won't get picture messages, internet access or email of any kind.
 
ah, so when my blackberry did my emails they went through that? I was thinking about not using the blackberry exchange thing, which is for big users.

My BT emails all came to the phone but it was an orange contract.
 
Be aware!

You'll need to get a Blackberry tariff otherwise everytime you access your email you'll get slapped for data charges.
 
trapper501 said:
ah, so when my blackberry did my emails they went through that? I was thinking about not using the blackberry exchange thing, which is for big users.

My BT emails all came to the phone but it was an orange contract.
Click to expand...

It's the BIS service you want. This is a service provider hosted BES account which will allow data services on your device.

I paid something like £4 a month when I was on PAYG with Orange about two years ago. The included data was more than enough for my email accounts and internet usage.

Even with a data plan on your account you will not be able to get onto the internet or access email - blackberry devices are blocked to only allow data through the RIM servers so it needs to be a blackberry data plan..
 
I'll give O2 a ring in the morning regarding their PAYG plans for Blackberries then.

Thanks for the super quick replies! :thumbs:
 
gingerweasel said:
It's the BIS service you want. This is a service provider hosted BES account which will allow data services on your device.

I paid something like £4 a month when I was on PAYG with Orange about two years ago. The included data was more than enough for my email accounts and internet usage.

Even with a data plan on your account you will not be able to get onto the internet or access email - blackberry devices are blocked to only allow data through the RIM servers so it needs to be a blackberry data plan..
Click to expand...

:agree:

You need to Phone them up and ask for the BIS service to be added to you number. BIS stands for Blackberry Internet Service, and will enable you to set up your email accounts on your Blackberry.

I look after 320 Blackberrys for my users - they're a bloody nightmare :lol::lol::lol:
 
Right hold on ....

I think some of the above is wrong!

Firstly, you CAN get picture messages, internet and email WITHOUT a blackberry data plan. I know this because I have been doing it for several months on Virgin!

What you won't get is any of the BB services provided by RIM - messenger, etc.

What I would suggest is as follows.

Ensure that you have some form of data package on your sim card - this does not have to be the Blackberry data package - a simple thing that allows you to access the internet is fine. (EG - 1GB per month allowance).

Once you have this, you will be able to access the internet using the BB Browser. You can then use this browser to search for, download and install opera mini browser - which is much quicker and easier to use than the BB browser.

As regards email - if you set yourself up a web based email - (Hotmail, gmail) etc you can then use the browser to check this email - although this WILL NOT show in the BB Email as it is not part of the BB service.

Let me know if you want any more help on this - saves you paying for the BB data plan when not needed!!

Cheers

Anth
 
magpieant said:
Right hold on ....

I think some of the above is wrong!

Firstly, you CAN get picture messages, internet and email WITHOUT a blackberry data plan. I know this because I have been doing it for several months on Virgin!

What you won't get is any of the BB services provided by RIM - messenger, etc.

What I would suggest is as follows.

Ensure that you have some form of data package on your sim card - this does not have to be the Blackberry data package - a simple thing that allows you to access the internet is fine. (EG - 1GB per month allowance).

Once you have this, you will be able to access the internet using the BB Browser. You can then use this browser to search for, download and install opera mini browser - which is much quicker and easier to use than the BB browser.

As regards email - if you set yourself up a web based email - (Hotmail, gmail) etc you can then use the browser to check this email - although this WILL NOT show in the BB Email as it is not part of the BB service.

Let me know if you want any more help on this - saves you paying for the BB data plan when not needed!!

Cheers

Anth
Click to expand...

I'll stand corrected if I'm wrong but I support Blackberry devices as part of my job and it's always been the case that you cannot use data services on a Blackberry without a Blackberry data plan. This is because unlike normal phones all Blackberry devices are coded to route all of their data traffic through the RIM servers in Canada (this is great for ensuring total market monopoly).

If you have credit on a PAYG sim then in theory you already have data services and the usage of this will come from your available credit. But I'm 99.9% certain you will not be able to use data services on this alone without the Blackberry tariff - give it a try by all means but I don't see it working.
 
Ginger - just to clarify ....

When you say 'data services' - are you referring to accessing the internet and sending MMS messages?

As mentioned above, I am currently on a sim only package with Virgin (300mins, unlimited texts and unlimited internet) and I can use my unlocked 8310 BB to do all of these things.

What I CANNOT DO is access ANY of the BB service things (BB Messenger, Email).

Not sure if your referral to data services means the blackberry service or more general ?

Cheers

Anth
 
My experience is any data service, as these are routed through RIM - even normal browser traffic.
 
I bought a BB and with an existing 3G sim I could browse the net, sms, phone etc. You can i believe also use other browsers which would be a way to webmail access your email. However I needed BIS working to have email pushed to my phone, and use BB maps, BB messenger, basically all the BB services. BB services is usually about £5 a month on top of the normal fees/package and a BB is only half the device it can be without it so you may as well get it.
 
I'll see how much the BIS service will cost from O2. If its £10 like the iPhone plan I'll go for it, if not I'll be in touch Anth! :thumbs:

Can't find out where to put in the name of the servers as I did in the iPhone network settings. I just found, Mobile Network in Options and Data Services which is set to On.


BlackCloud said:
BB services is usually about £5 a month on top of the normal fees/package and a BB is only half the device it can be without it so you may as well get it.
Click to expand...

Sounds good. £5 is fine with me.
 
Last edited:
BlackCloud said:
I bought a BB and with an existing 3G sim I could browse the net, sms, phone etc. You can i believe also use other browsers which would be a way to webmail access your email. However I needed BIS working to have email pushed to my phone, and use BB maps, BB messenger, basically all the BB services. BB services is usually about £5 a month on top of the normal fees/package and a BB is only half the device it can be without it so you may as well get it.
Click to expand...

My problem was that Virgin don't do 'just' the BB services - I would have needed to take out a new contract with them !

I am on a very good deal at the moment (300mins, free calls virgin to virgin mobile, free calls from home virgin phone to mine and wife's virgin mobile, unlimited texts and unlimited internet - all for £10 pm on a rolling contract)

As a result, I had to find free ways to use the BB.

Instead of blackberry maps - I use google maps - free and it works with the BB's GPS. Email - web based - annoying having to check all of the time instead of a little beep - but it does the job and it's free. BB messenger - just use my unlimited texts ;)

Ginger - yes - it can use data services definitely :)

Anth.
 
magpieant said:
Martyp - on my 8310 - Options - Advanced options - TCP - I can enter my server settings in there.

Anth
Click to expand...

Ah ha!

That's the one. Just checked the O2 site and the BB web and mail 'bolt-on' for PAYG is £15. Basically iPhone + £5 but you get 300 free texts as part of that which eases the pain. :lol:

Going to phone them tomorrow to get it changed from iPhone to BB. You can do it by text or online but I'd rather someone else done it incase both come off! :D
 
The pain is lessened - it's 500 texts free!!!

Top up £15-29
Get 500 texts and 500MB internet plus Blackberry email.

Anth :)
 
Even better then!

That's not a bad plan at all IMO, can't see me browsing the internet much on it anyway so the 500Mb should be fine.

Just need to have a search for some decent apps and wait on my 8Gb microSD card coming now.

Thanks for your help Anth!
 
Let me know if you stumble across any decent apps marty.

the ones I tend to use the most are google maps, opera mini, word/excel/pdf to go.

Anth
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top