Hi all,

I read somewhere that it is possible to enable the BB Browser even if you don't subscribe to BIS/BES.

However, I wish to know what's the point of this? Is it because it enable OTA? (btw I don't even know how this Over the air concept works )

Please enlighten me? And if it really enables OTA, then where does the data usage come from? Since there's no BB Data plan.

As part of my job I regularly visit parts of the developing world where there is no BIS and no network that my UK sim will roam on so I am forced to use local sim cards and carry out the conversion you have heard about or my Blackberry becomes an ornamental paperweight.

To enable your Blackberry browser without BIS or BES you just need to install a "browser via TCP" service book via Blackberry Desktop Manager,input the TCP settings for your network and adjust your browser settings.You will then have full use of your Blackberry browser including the ability to download.You will then also be able to use third party push email apps if you wish such as Shangmail,Funambol or Googles own Gmail app,so contrary to what you may read in other places it is quite possible to have internet access via your BB browser and push email without a BB data plan.However,there are some applications such as BB Messenger which will only work with BIS/BES and so you will not have use of them.

The OTA concept you ask about is "over the air" and means just that,transferring data or applications to your BB via your mobile network rather that by data cable from your computer.

Lastly to answer your question about data useage,if you install a "browser via TCP"service book your phone will then access the internet just like any other GSM handset so data useage will be at your network's standard rate.

I use this method several times a year so that I can continue using my BB in far flung places and when I get back to the UK I just reinstall my Virgin sim,resend my service books and go back to using BIS.

Ok then am I able to use FB with it?

Nope.

I find this pretty hard to believe...

I am in the mountains of Eastern Afghanistan right now (a VERY remote area), and I have BlackBerry service on my roaming T-Mobile USA 9700.

It sounds like you need a new UK provider.

Virgin is not even a carrier. They are a VNO (Virtual Network Operator) and at least for the UK they operate through tmob, in the us they transit on Sprint.
Their roaming agreements to other networks are rather limited and in some countries non existent.

It's an extremely poor carrier choice for a world traveller.

I know what Virgin is and how it operates, and I agree that it is a very poor choice for travelling the world. Vodafone is a much better choice.

To answer the OP's question,no you won't be able to use the Facebook for Blackberry app because it works via BIS but you will still be able to access facebook via your BB browser or if you install Opera Mini it has a built in Facebook shortcut.

To answer the comments re my network,yes for my current position Virgin is about the worst choice you could make in the UK but 3 months into a 24 month contract I got moved from our European desk to International and was stuck with Virgin but i've only got a few weeks of the contract left and needless to say it won't be getting renewed and I shall be looking to see which of our networks will best suit my needs.

I feel it is my duty to ask....Are you Osama Bin Laden???

Hi woodyuk,

Will you please tell me how to obtain the "browser via TCP" service book for my BB 8320. (I don't have BIS/BES activated)

One more question, does services books vary from device to device
(I mean to say, if I have a specific service book for a BB 8100, BB 8900, or any other model, will the same service book work in my BB 8320)
Or is it like, service books vary based on the device/model.

Thanks,
Vinay

Hi,the service book file is the same for all Blackberry models and will work with all BBs that will accept a service book via cable which is all handsets from the 7130 onwards.

You can get it from here

The service book file is a piece of open source freeware so there are no copyright or other issues attached to using it.

Once you have it downloaded and saved to your computer,this is what you do:-

On your Blackberry navigate to options/advanced options/service book.Once you are in the service book page hold down the “ALT” key and type ”SBEB”.A message will appear saying ”Legacy SB Restore-Enabled” .Click “OK”

Start Blackberry Desktop Manager on your computer and connect your handset.Once it is recognized select “backup and restore” then “advanced”.Next, at the top of the left hand box you will see an arrow marked “file” click it and select “open”.Navigate to your “browser via tcp” file,which you have downloaded and double click it,it should now appear in the left hand box of Desktop Manager.Click the file to highlight it and then click the >> arrow to send it to your handset,clicking “yes” when asked.Once the transfer is complete you can close desktop Manager and disconnect your handset from your computer.

On your Blackberry navigate to options/advanced options/browser and make sure it is set to just “browser”. Eg.you may have 2 options such as “Vodafone Live” and “browser”,set it to “browser”.Save and exit.
On your Blackberry navigate to options/advanced options/TCP and input the APN,username and password for your network,(Google is your friend)save your settings and exit.
Your Blackberry will now access the internet just like any other GSM phone.To test your browser you can select the bookmark called "Home Page(Blackberry)",this will take you to Google.

You now have a fully functioning Blackberry browser including the ability to download and carry out OTA installs etc.You will now also be able to use third party push email apps such as Gmail,Shangmail and Funambol.

Hi woodyuk,

Thanks for your reply. It is really very helpful.

Can I find all other service books at the link that you provided me.

Thanks,
Vinay

Hi,no you can't.The link I posted for you is just for the "browser via tcp" service book file which if you are using your Blackberry without BIS/BES is all you need.That service book is the same for all current Blackberrys.

the only difference is that , because you don't have any data plan, all you internet traffic will go over voice network. what is very expensive

Here in Canada for example internet over voice network cost 5 cents per 1KB

Here in the UK there are several pre pay networks that for £10 (approx $15) a month will give you not only your £10 of calling credit but also unlimited data so the browser via tcp option makes for quite a cheap alternative here for people who don't want to take a contract,albeit you are still restricted as to what you can use because you won't have BBM and apps like MSN won't work but you can use your browser,have some form of push email and use Appworld which suprisingly enough you can access without BIS.

It's not an ideal solution by any means but it's been a usefull workaround for me when in parts of the world where I had to use a local sim.

It's not something I'll need to use again though hopefully because while this thread has been running my Virgin contract has expired and I've switched to T-Mobile UK whose international roaming facilities are excellent.

Excellent is one thing they're not. One has to be extremely kind to call tmob's service and coverage anything but hopeless pretty much in either side of the pond.

The service bookfile 'browser via TCP' was created by a clever BB man in Hanoi VIetnam. His handle is Anworm and the file can be uploaded directly from bb.anworm.com.

Yesterday I was trying to help somebody who is using a Blackberry without BIS and they just have a 1GB data add-on, but their network does not support Blackberry. Anyway, we got most items sorted although they were disappointed they could not get the Facebook app to work.

Last night I downloaded the Facebook app to my own 9700 and when selecting the link from the Blackberry site, it said to download version 1.7, BUT, to click here to download version 1.6 if I did not have access to the browsing service??

Does this mean that version 1.6 will in fact work without BIS??