New 8700 - MDS Broken or Wrong BB Plan?
 

I just got my 8700 via FedEx today. New Cingular account.

I activated it and sync'd it up with our 4.x BES server. Email/contact/calendar all sync'ing wirelessly - no problem.

I don't, however, have the Blackberry Browser icon. I have the Cingular Browser icon and it is working ok.

Also, I cannot get stuff like VeriChat or of course mobile.blackberry.com to work.

I have had several Blackberries in the past with Cingular and Verizon and have had no problems with these things.

Our internal Email/BES guy is goofing off on holiday vacation while I had super-critical MDS (maybe) issues here, so I cannot troubleshoot with him yet. He did send me an email saying that he set me up the same way he always does, so at least he doesn't think there is an issue with the account configuration.

The interesting thing is that when Cingular set up my account, the rep said "Oh when you combine voice and data you get the unlimited Blackberry for $34.99". I was certainly skeptical, but didn't say anything. (Last year I had a Cingular 7290 and the rep in the store set up unlimited Blackberry on my account at $35.99/month - which worked fine). So, I logged into my account online and the plan line-item says the following:


Feature Monthly Charge
34.99 UNL BB F $34.99

That is the only line-item for the Blackberry - it stops at the "F".

Is it possible that they have a some plan that supports BES, but not MDS? I would obviously like to keep this $34.99 plan if it will work, so I am hesitant to call Cingular support for fear that they decide that they screwed up and gave me the cheap plan. Easy to assume that the plan is the problem, but I did seem to get a killer deal last year and everything worked (so I am hopeful).

How can I troubleshoot between now and Monday (when Email/BES guy is back)?

FYI - Looking at my Service Books:

1. I don't have a "Desktop [IPPP]", but I do have a "IPPP for 5 Click [IPPP]" service book.

I also have a "Browser Config for 5 Click [BrowserConfig]" and "Cingular Browser [BrowserConfig]" and "Blackberry Browser [BrowserConfig]" among others...

I would read this post before doing anything else.
http://www.blackberryforums.com/blackberry-network/2185-blackberry-internet-msn-chat-web-telnet-tcpip-no-bes.html

Actually, I did read through that thread. It appears, however, to be focused on getting MDS-like service without a MDS. I have MDS on my BES server, and I definately do not want to call Cingular and ask them to add some other stuff on my account (yet).

The thread above leads you to this other thread that contains this:

FIGURED IT OUT! WAP Access is included in BB Unlim Plan! - Cingular
Great NEWS!

Ok for all you guys with the Cingular Unlimited Data Plan's on a non-BES, you DO NOT, i repeat you DO NOT need to pay extra for WAP Access if you do have the unlimited data plan! I finally got through with a great cingular employee, whom I explained my whole story too, and she agreed and took care of it and fixed everything up and cleared up any confusion. Just call up Cingular's Blackberry Dept. and see if you can get Lucy Patton to help you out, that was her name. She'll help you out with everything you need, she totally understands the situation. The number to call is ..866-490-2666.

Man am i relieved now that I don't have to pay extra for something I already have. One huge headache cleared from my life heh.

Any questions feel free to PIN me..

I also just got an email from her saying that these settings will also work with the blackberry access point:
GPRS APN: blackberry.net
WAP gateway ip: 66.209.11.61
WAP gateway port: 9203
__________________

Have you tried that?

I tried several of the suggested APN settings, but nothing worked.

Unless I am overlooking something in these threads, I don't see how they help a BES/MDS user like me.

Check your services books, see if you have a Desktop [IPPP] - should be under Options->Advanced->Service Book.

If you do not have the IPPP service book your IT guy may have accidently disabled MDS on you.

Cingular will not block MDS traffic.

Ok, problem fixed. The Email/BES guy figured out that MDS was not enabled on my account. Blackberry Browser and Verichat working fine now.

Next question/problem: I mentioned above that I have this odd $34.99 unlimited Blackberry data plan. I logged in today and under the usage section I get this:


Usage Type Included "Used" Remaining Overage
Internet & Downloads* 0.0KB 959.0KB 0.0KB 959.0KB
34.99 UNL BB F
*Data usage is measured in kilobytes and reflects an estimate of the usage since your last billing cycle.



For those of you with unlimited Blackberry plans with Cingular, do you get a similar 0K included and xxxxk overage readings?