Blackberry capabilities without BIS

Blackberry capabilities without BIS
This is based on my experience in Singapore. The facts will likely cover other countries as well, but I can't say for sure. Do your homework. A fairly common question that gets asked is what can be done on a Blackberry without a Blackberry Internet Service (BIS) plan. If you begin your search at crackberry.com, or other such forums, you'll tend to get discouraged. However, how much is truth, and how much is just people overprotective of their way of life?


Things you'll hear, and I can tell you are 100% not correct:
"Starhub/Singtel/xxx telco insists that Blackberrys can only be activated with the addition of a data plan."

or

"You can only buy a Blackberry with a BIS plan/Data plan."

Not true. Find another Customer Service Operator. You CAN buy a Blackberry without any such plans. The question is what do they mean by activated? I haven't a clue. But it definitely doesn't mean the phone won't work at all.

"A Blackberry without BIS/Data Plan is as good as a paperweight"

This gives the impression that the Blackberry is a special device that can only work if you sign up for it's special plan. Wrong. At the very least you can still make phone calls and send text messages. That's a pretty impressive paperweight. Paperweight.5 perhaps? iPaperweight?

"A Blackberry without BIS/Data Plan is a dumbphone"

Really depends on your definition of dumbphone. My dumbphones could never edit word, excel and powerpoint documents. iDumbphone?

"Why get a Blackberry if you don't want push email? You're buying the wrong phone. I can do the same things on my $50 PDA."

Why get a Tag Heuer when you don't do intensive activities? You're buying the wrong watch. I can tell the time on my $20 Casio.
Why get a Ferrari when you don't drive at 300km/hr? You're buying the wrong car. I can drive at the same speed on my Honda.
Why get a Gucci bag? I can carry the same things in my plastic bag.

Why indeed.

You'll find many people misleading you to think the following chart is true.


Which is blatantly wrong.

Here, I did up a chart that is much more reflective of the truth.


Note: I'm not keen on getting into any arguments about how someone should use their Blackberry. I believe that is totally up to each individual, and that people have good reasons for doing things the way they want to. This is a purely informative post.
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Facebook on Blackberry Bold

Facebook on Blackberry Bold
Someone asked me if the facebook application could be used on a Blackberry without a BIS/BES plan. Here's the answer to that question, plus some screenshots on what uploading pictures on the facebook app looks like.





I took this picture while walking to my bus stop on the way to work.


Here you can see I do not have BB messenger, and do not have the RIM logo next to the 3G symbol, indicative of the lack of a BIS plan.


Then I logged in to facebook by clicking on the icon you see in the title picture.


I then select the upload function, and can add a description and tags on my photo.


Once photos are uploaded, you can browse them, along with others, through a very nice interface.

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Blackberry Bold as Modem

Blackberry Bold as Modem
Here's a quick guide to using your Blackberry Bold, tethered as a modem. It should work with the other newer Blackberrys as well.



This guide is written with screenshots from Windows XP with some domain changes. Look for the similar places on your operating system to change the settings.

Step 1: Connect your Blackberry to your computer. Make sure to turn on the Device Manager.

This is the driver that will tell your computer what to expect from your blackberry.

Step 2: Go to the Control Panel


Step 3: Doubleclick on phone and modem options


Step 4: Select "Standard Modem". This is your Blackberry


Step 5: Click on Properties. Enter the details as shown.

For Starhub replace "internet" with "shwapint".
For M1 replace "internet" with "mobilenet"
If you guessed this is the APN, your guess is the same as mine.

Step 6: Go to your connections. Doubleclick on the Dial-up connection that has been created. I renamed mine as "Singtel"


Step 7: Enter the following:
User name: 65_________ <-Your mobile number. For example, 6591234567
Password: user123
Dial: *99#

Now click on the "Dial" button

Your computer will dial up a connection through your Blackberry as a modem


When that screen disappears, you should be connected. I get a popup bubble announcement on the bottom right hand of my screen telling me my connected speed when this happens.
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Unlock the Blackberry Browser without BIS

Unlock the Blackberry Browser without BIS
The Blackberry Browser is normally only activated if you subscribe to the BIS or BES service. But there’s a way around it.
As a fair warning, using the method I’m about to teach may be considered inappropriate (or illegal). However, nobody has ever reported any trouble for doing so, nor do I see anything technically illegal about it. It doesn’t seem to break any of the terms of use. I see it as no different from installing a new theme. However, use at your own discretion.

Short Story:
Backup the service books from a Blackberry that has the service books to the Desktop Manager. Then restore the service books to the Blackberry without the service book.

Long Story:
RIM, the makers of the Blackberry, controls the use of some apps through the need to activate them via downloading the service books. For most of the RIM apps, it makes sense, as all the information needed for those apps are stored in the RIM servers. BB messenger routes messages to other Blackberrys and BB maps sends you the maps stored in the RIM database for example.

The Blackberry Browser need not necessarily go through the RIM servers to get to the internet. However, you are blocked from using it unless you have the service books. Hence, downloading the service books into your blackberry will allow the use of the Blackberry Browser, but not the BB apps that require access to RIM servers.

Firstly you'll need a backup of the service books containing the blackberry browser. How you're going to get your hands on this I'll leave it up to you. Or you can find a link at the bottom of this post.

Once you have that, here’s a screenshot-filled step by step.

1. Go to Options


2. Go to Advanced Options


3. Go to Service Book


4. Hold the 'alt' key and press S B E B. You should see a message pop up with the words: Legacy SB Restore Enabled. This allows you to backup and restore service books on your Blackberry.


5. Start up your Blackberry Desktop Manager


6. Select Backup and Restore


7. Select Advanced


8. Select File and Open


9. Select and open the backup file


10. Add the service books to your Blackberry by clicking on the >> arrows


11. Select OK


12. Here's before the Browser service book is added:


13. And this is after (note the extra Browser Config service book):


14. Now just go to the Browser in Advanced Options


15. And select "Browser". Use Hotspot Browser when you want to connect through wifi instead.


16. And you're done. Enjoy surfing.


Get the backup file at this dude's how to page: http://bb.anworm.com/Home/english
Scroll right to the bottom and click on 'Get tools here'.
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Set up Mobile Phones for the Internet

Set up Mobile Phones for the Internet
If your phone hasn’t been set up by default, it’s pretty easy getting it ready for internet use in Singapore through GPRS/3G.





Short Story:
Find the network settings control on your phone. Use the following APN settings.

For Singtel -
APN: internet
Username: (blank)
Password: (blank)

For Starhub -
APN: shwapint
Username: (blank)
Password: (blank)

For M1 -
APN: mobilenet
Username: (blank)
Password: (blank)

Long Story:
Your phone is like a little mobile computer. In order for a computer to send and receive information from the internet, it needs to connect to a provider which will assign it an address.

Usually on your home wired networks, this is done by the modem given to you when you sign up for the service. With your phone, you need to access the network via what is called APN, or Access Point Name. This tells your phone where to join the external network.

There are two types of APN used, the WAP APN and the web/internet APN. Entering the different APN will connect your phone through a different system. The WAP APN will normally filter non-WAP content by traffic, ports or volume. This depends on the service provider. The web/internet APN gives full content and may be charged at higher rates. It would be best to check with your telco if your plan charges extra for web/internet data.

In general, I have found it not to be the case. Our telcos seem to charge no different for web/internet or WAP access. However, if you are worried or have found this to be otherwise, the following are the WAP APN settings.

Singtel -
APN: e-ideas
Username: 65IDEAS
Password: IDEAS

Starhub -
APN: shwap
Username: (blank)
Password: (blank)

M1 -
APN: miworld
Username: (blank)
Password: (blank)
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