First, a little background. 8700G BB is my first blackberry, so I am a total newbie to smart phones. I received my 8700G (new) yesterday, via USPS.

After inserting my SIM card from my Moto Razr, into the 8700G, at the top of the screen reads, "Data connection refused". I assumed this was because I did not yet add a BB Internet & Data plan.

I phoned T-Mobile and had the "BB Internet & Data" plan added. They informed me the process will take a minimum of 2 hours, and a maximum of 48 hours. Since I am such a newbie to the BB, but I wasn't sure how to even check if the service was up and running.

So again, I phoned T-Mobile's technical support to ask how to check if the service is available and the following is the conversation:

Me: I need assistance in how to access the internet browser through my blackberry, being that it is my first blackberry.

TM: Scroll through the icons until you find an icon that looks like a Yellow Ball with an Arrow wrapping around it.

Me: I do not have the icon.

TM: Are you using a Blackberry 8700, 8700c, or 8700g?

Me: 8700 G.

TM: When your data plan is activated, the icon will appear. At that time, you will be able to access your browser by moving your track wheel over the icon and clicking.


My question for BBF is: Is what the TMobile rep told me, true? Will the icon appear automatically when the data service is available, and at only that time?

I am skeptical on whether or not the information given to me is valid or not. Also, I called to activate the Data Plan on Thursday April 16th @2PM, and it is now Friday April 17th 12:30PM. I am aware they told me a maximum of 48 Hours, but I have received a SMS from TM informing me that the change has been made to my account. I still do not have the said icon, and the top of the screen still reads, "Data connection refused".

Yes and Yes.

Thank you for the quick response.

Edit:
Just in case any other newbies have the same question, the icon I am talking about is the icon that is a globe with a yellow arrow wrapping around it. Here is an image of a 8700G menu screen..

It is the icon directly underneath the "Messages" Icon. Middle Row. Far Left-Hand Side.

[UPDATE] 4-21-2009

Just as an update, if anybody else had the same question..

After waiting 2 days from adding on BB Internet & Email plan via T-Mobile, I still did not have a browser icon. I could not access edge, and the screen continued to read "Data Service Refused".

I did, however, solve the issue. I connected my BB via USB cord to my PC. Closed the Blackberry Desktop Manager, and went to blackberry.com/update (must use IE). On the web page, there is a button that reads, "Search for Updates", and I clicked to update my BB. From there, I saved the update setup file, and ran the executable file. From there on, everything worked fine.

Yes, that is how new I am to a smart phone. Hopefully this will help someone else in the same situation.

Question: if you dont have a data plan with any network provider, is it possible to connect to a wireless router and use the shared connection of it in browsing the web?

With an 8700 series BlackBerry? No, it's not possible.